Contest Entry: Giving My Advice to Preserve Culture in My Place

As the age-old English proverb goes "Rome was not built in a day." In the same way the culture and tradition of a society cannot emerge in a single day.

The preservation of Assam's rich cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible resources including monuments and archaeological sites, anthropology and ethnology, folk and tribal arts, literature and handicrafts, performing arts, visual arts is essential and assumes a lot of importance.

How to preserve culture:

• Enhance publicity in the local as well as international platform to promote tourism and recreation.
• Renovate archaeological sites and monuments.
• Develop transportation and accommodation facilities in tourism hotspots.
• Organise cultural shows- dance drama music, fairs and festivals.
• Improve hospitality which is a major factor that effects the growth of tourism.
• Make use of social media platforms - Steemit Communities, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc. to create awareness.
• Bring to notice of the government and corporate sectors the drawbacks and shortcomings and request funds.

What else can be done:

• The Assam Heritage (Tangible) Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Maintenance Bill 2020 was given due recognition to help preserve the cultural values of the state. The archaeological sites, historical monuments, artefacts and places of worship such as Satras(Vaishnavite Monastries), Stupas, Temples, Namghars, Mosques, Dargahs, Churches etc. which are more than 75 years old are valuable assets of Assam's culture and heritage. This can be maximized to reach all possible institutions.

• The Govt. can provide financial grants to indigenous craftsmen who make different handicraft items from wood, bamboo, jute and other natural fibres, pottery items, mask making, handloom cloth, silk cloth etc. These are essential part of Assamese culture and every household.

Mask making in Majuli island Source

Traditional handicrafts items by indigenous craftsmen of Assam

• The local administration should try to get Majuli (the world's largest river island which is the seat of Vaisnavite culture), Ahom Maidams (graveyards of Ahom kings of Assam) at Charaideo district included in the list of UNESCO designated world heritage sites in India.

Vaishnavite Monastry in Majuli island, Assam Source

Maidams or graveyards of Ahom kings Source

• The Sanchipaats (manuscript written on barks of trees) by various Vaishnav scholars in medieval times are treasure houses of Assamese literature. Digitisation of these valuable resources will be helpful for someone who wants to studies culture of Medieval Assam.

Manuscripts of olden times Source

Manuscripts of olden times written in bark of trees Source

• Mayong, Assam's own Hogwarts has a cultural significance of its own. This town has been known for wizardry and witchcraft since ages. Manuscripts containing written magical chants, traditional medicines from Mayong is being studied and conserved by local administration funded by agencies from Germany.

• In 2017, the Govt. of Assam organised the Namami Brahmaputra, a vibrant river festival to acknowledge and appreciate the contribution of the mighty river to the culture and traditions of Assam and the different tribes living along the river valley. This type of multi cultural events should be held annually to promote cultural heritage.

Namami Brahmaputra river festival Source

Namami Brahmaputra river festival in 2017 Source

• Promoting fairs and festivals is another tool to preserve culture. For instance, the Raas Mahotsava which is held annually in the month of Nov-Dec attracts thousands of visitors. It showcases the greatness, larger than life activities of Lord Krishna, one of the major deities of Hindu mythology.

Raas Mahotsava in Nalbari district, Assam

Other than that, government can organise various literary contests - essays, short stories, travellogues, drawings, etc. based on the theme of culture among school kids, college students to promote cultural growth. Funds can also be allocated to NGO's who may penetrate better into suburban and rural areas and help preserve and promote the rich heritage and culture of Assam.

---

Big S/O to admin @rezamusic22 and moderators @ahyar92, @dimasputra and @imamalkimas at History and Culture Community for organizing such engaging contests.

I would like to invite @vaibhavsan, @krishna001, @sarveshnegi2811 to participate in this contest 📢 Contest Announcement #2: Give the best advice to preserve the culture in your place !!! | Total Prize 30 STEEM

Thank You.

---

Unless otherwise mentioned, all media belong to the author