Why in news
The Charaideo Moidams, a 700-year-old mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty from Assam, were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List
43rd property from India to be included in the prestigious index
Royal burial mounds
Similar to the pyramids of Egypt, the Moidams are earthen burial mounds of the members of the Ahom royalty
They were constructed by providing an earth cover over a hollow vault made of bricks, stone or earth.
The Ahoms adopted the Hindu method of cremation after the 18th century and began entombing the cremated bones and ashes in a Moidam at Charaideo
Charaideo is home to over 90 royal burial mounds
Ahom dynasty
The Ahom clan established their capital in different parts of the Brahmaputra River Valley between the 12th to 18th century, after migrating from China
Chaolung Sukapha a 13th century ruler founded the Ahom kingdom that ruled Assam for six centuries
They established the first capital at the Patkai hills in eastern India and named it Charaideo
Ahoms created a new state by suppressing the older political system of the bhuiyans (landlords)
The Ahoms ruled the land till the province was annexed to British India in 1826 with the signing of the Treaty of Yandaboo
The Ahom state depended upon forced labour.
Those forced to work for the state were called paiks.
Ahom society was divided into clans or khels. A khel often controlled several villages
Ahoms worshipped their own tribal gods but instead of imposing their own customs on communities living in Assam, they accepted the Hindu religion and the Assamese language.
However, the Ahom kings did not completely give up their traditional beliefs after adopting Hinduism
Historical works, known as buranjis, were also written, first in the Ahom language and then in Assamese
COMMENTS