Assam’s Charaideo Moidam Receives UNESCO World Heritage Certificate in Paris

The Charaideo Moidam in Assam has received the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Certificate in Paris, an accolade underlining its immense cultural and historical value. Receiving this prestigious recognition not only reaffirms the region’s rich heritage but also brings the region to the world podium for the world to better appreciate and understand Assam’s unique contributions to world history.

The Charaideo Moidam in Assam are giant tombs that reflect the majestic history of the Ahom dynasty and the cultural identity. The certificate was handed to Assam’s Cultural Minister Bimal Bora, at a ceremonial function in Paris, chaired by Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO. This very important occasion was also joined by the Indian Ambassador in France, Vishal B Sharma.

A Historic Milestone for Northeast India

This marks a historic victory not just for Assam, but for the whole northeastern region of India. The Charaideo Moidams thus becomes a cultural property and the first cultural property from the region to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. While Kaziranga and Manas National Parks were declared natural heritage sites even before this, the nomination of the Moidams is making the cultural wealth and significance of the region held in high regard.

Unveiling Ancient Royal Burial Practices at the Charaideo Moidams

Twenty-eight kilometers east of Sivasagar, the Charaideo Moidams bear witness to burial traditions with peculiarities attributable to the Tai Ahom dynasty. These mound-like structures, dating back from the 13th to the 19th centuries, evoke another era of burial practices that have constructed the region’s cultural identity. Of the 386 Moidams identified, 90 royal burial sites in Charaideo stand out for their exceptional preservation-the more important of them will exhibit remains of our true inheritance of the Ahom rulers.

At first, Ahom royalty used to be interred along with their belongings and ceremonial objects, but these practices were replaced by Hindu cremation rites in the mid-18th century. After this process, the bones and ashes of the deceased were laid in the earth, a procedure that would lead to a burial within the Moidams. These mounds serve as final resting places for the Ahom kings (Swargadeos), queens, princes, and princesses. They illustrate the reverence that this region has traditionally held for its royal family and a belief in their divinity.

Charaideo holds immense cultural and spiritual significance as the burial site of the first Ahom king, Chau-lung Siu-ka-pha. His tomb marked the dawn of centuries of royal burials, and in the subsequent six hundred years, this town emerged as the hallowed cemetery for the Ahom royalty, becoming emblematic of the everlasting legacy of the dynasty.

A New Chapter for Assam’s Cultural Tourism

The Charaideo Moidams, the unique funeral architecture of the Tai Ahom people, are Indian monuments flaunting a rich cultural heritage affiliated with South Asian and Southeast Asian traditions. It further confirms Moidams as precious cultural treasure recognized by UNESCO, unveiling unique burial practices and religious rites of one of India’s longest-reigning dynasties. The expectation is that this recognition will see an increase in international tourist traffic at the site, a rare view into ancient traditions that still inform Assam’s culture today.

Conclusion

It is a historic day for the state of Assam, when UNESCO conferred World Heritage Certificate to the Charaideo Moidam. This heralds not only the rich and storied history of the Ahom dynasty but sets the table for a new era in conservation, education and economic development. With all the international attention on the site, it is expected that the Charaideo Moidam will become a beacon of Assam’s heritage, attracting visitors from across the globe and encouraging coming generations to treasure and safeguard their cultural heritage.

From ancient burial mounds to UNESCO recognition, the story of Charaideo Moidam is theme of ever-lasting India value and world efforts. Societies elsewhere can take a leaf out of Assam’s book as it prohibits the theft and loss of its culture and history for the sake of revenue generation.