Tai Ahom Kingdom :

On a bright morning of December 1228, the dream of forming Assam and the Assamese state became a reality. The Tai people who came from Yunnan across the Patkai Mountains decided to unite the ethnic groups of Assam and build a broader Assam by 'ending seven kingdoms and create one kingdom' When the Tai Ahom came to Assam, the Moran, Borahi, Kachari and Chutia kings established small kingdoms in the southern part of the Brahmaputra Valley. However, the Tai Ahom kingdom was excited about the ideal of forming a new vibrant state by embracing these small kingdoms and state's. From a political point of view, the Ahom became imperialist in some respects, but this paved the way for cultural integration and development. The broad liberal policies of the Tai Ahom contributed greatly to the achievement of national unity by removing the looseness of the mental structures that were rigidly separated by caste and tribe. The Ahom kingdom expanded and its administrative structure became stronger, and the Assamese language, culture and literature flourished. In ancient times, the province was called Kamrup. The name of the province became Assam only after the arrival of the Tai_Ahom. The indigenous people living in this Assam are known as Assamese. Assamese does not refer to any particular community. The Great Chaolung Sukapha and his descendants ruled Assam with distinction for nearly six hundred years without any long interruption from 1228 AD to the 'Treaty of Yandabu' in 1826 AD.

Tai_Ahom_Culture_& Beliefs : 

The Tai Ahom also had a tradition of worshiping their ancestors. The Dam Puja (Hokam) held at home and the Puja of the dead held collectively are - "Me-Dam-Me-Phi".

'Rik-Khon' is a religious ceremony performed by the Tai people to awaken the gods of the various parts of the body to make the human soul healthy and strong and to keep the body healthy and strong.

"Rik Khon Myung Khon" is the part of the worship that is performed to save the kingdom from destruction due to misrule of the ruler, rebellion of the subjects, defeat of war, etc.

'Me-Dam-Me-Phi' means- Me- worship/tarpan, Dam- dead, Me- worship/tarpan, Phi- gods, ie a religious ceremony of the Tai Ahom people in memory of their ancestors.
The 'Chaklong' custom of the Tai Ahom is very old and characteristic. The Ahom kings and nobles married according to the 'Chaklong' rule. The Ahom still celebrate marriages according to the 'Chaklong' rule.

Om-Pha is the largest worship of the Tai Ahom people.
The Tai Ahom are the inventors of Bihu in Assam.
The Tai Ahom are mainly Taoist people.
The Ahom were the first to introduce irrigation or ditch paddy cultivation in Assam. They plowed with buffalo.

Scholars Opinion :

The cultural contribution of the Tai Ahom to Assam is versatile. The Ahom_Kingdom contributed to literature, religion, architecture, sculpture, painting, politics and socio structure. Historical literature is one of the cultural contributions of literary subjects.

This historical literature is unique and incomparable among the Indian provincial languages. There are many scholars who have praised the linguistics of Assamese historical literature besides the linguists Dr. Greerson and Suniti Kumar Chattopadhyay.

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Dipankar Handique

Nazira, District- Sivasagar, Assam, India