The tradition of barter system practiced by the Tiwa tribe. The students of SBGJ made a visit on the 2nd day of the three day community fair held in Morigaon district

1. A Visit To Jonbeel Mela

2. CONTENTS
Jonbeel Mela 2015
 Introduction
 Location
 Barter System
 Barter System Continued
 Features of The Jonbeel Mela
 Rarest of the Rare
 Photo Gallery

3. Jonbeel mela 2015
The Jonbeel Mela was held on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of January. We the
students of Sarala Birla Gyan Jyoti visited the Jonbeel Mela on the second
day.The first day began with the Community Feast in the banks of Jon Beel
symbolizing the ceremonial opening of the Mela, which was attended by the
Gobha King. He is the customary king of the Gobha Kingdom which includes
different communities falling under the districts of Nagaon, Marigaon and
Kamrup. The last day of the fair was graced by the presence of the Governor
of Meghalaya, Ranjit Shekhar Mushahari. The closing ceremony turned out
to be more colorful because of the cultural function, where traditional dances
were performed by the local tribes.

4. INTRODUCTION
Joonbeel Mela is a three-day community
fair held on the weekend of Magh Bihu at
a historic place known as Dayang Belguri
at Joonbeel. Joon and Beel are Assamese
terms for the Moon and a wetland
respectively .The Joonbeel is so called
because a large natural water body is
shaped like a crescent moon.

5. LOCATION
It is 5 km from Jagiroad in Marigaon district of Assam
and 32 km from Guwahati. The National Highway
connecting the mela is NH 37.

6. BARTER SYSTEM
A few days prior to the fair, tribal communities such
as Jayantia, Tiwa, Khasi and Karbi belonging to the
northeast India descend down the hills with their
indigenous products and exchange their artefacts and
basic articles of necessity with the local folks of the
plains in a barter system. Herbs, spices, fruits, ginger
etc are brought by the people of the hills to
interchange them with rice, cakes and other food
stuffs that cannot be grown on hills.

7. BARTER SYSTEM Cont.
Numerous tribal villagers from the different
parts of Assam arrive in this beautiful place to
meet the folks of the plains for exchanging
goods. During the three days of the festival
temporary bamboo huts are created by these
people where they cherish the festivity with
great enthusiasm. It is referred to as a hi-tech
age barter system and is possibly the only
fair in the country where barter system is still
active. In fact this is quite an uncommon
practice in this civilized modern society.

8. Fire worship, also known as Agni
Puja, is performed before the start
of Jonbeel Mela to pray for the well
being of the mankind. Community
fishing in the Jonbeel wetland
marks the beginning of the fair.
Exquisite traditional dance and
music can also be witnessed there,
performed by the various tribes.
Cock fights, group meals and
exhibitions of varied artefacts form
prime attractions for the visitors
from all around the country. It is
also visited by the Gova king, the
King of Tiwa tribes, along with his
courtiers for collecting taxes from
his subjects. On the day before the
fair, a community feast is arranged
by the king with his officers on the
bank of Jonbeel. Promoting the
harmony and brotherhood among
the various communities and tribes
dwelling in the northeast India is the
main focus of Jonbeel Mela.
FEATURES OF JONBEEL MELA

9. “Rarest of rare”
 The Assam government has approached the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) for declaring the historic
‘Jonbeel Mela’ a heritage festival and a heritage site in Morigaon district.
 District Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar told PTI on Saturday that
Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla has written to the Unesco to accord special
status to the Mela.
 Mr. Kumar said the government had sought the special status as Jonbeel
Mela was one of “the rarest of the rarest festivals” where both tribal people
and non-tribal people of Assam and Meghalaya practice a barter system for
exchanging agricultural produces in a festive manner at the end of the
Assamese Magh Bihu period (Makara Sankranti).

10. Photo Gallery