Experience Barter System: Jonbeel Mela Begins Tomorrow

Guwahati: The historic 'Jonbeel Mela', one of Assam’s most enduring symbols of harmony between the hills and the plains, will begin tomorrow on the banks of Jonbeel (lake) at Jagiroad. This three-day fair will run until January 24 and brings back a barter system that has nearly vanished from the modern world.

With preparations now complete, the banks of Jonbeel are ready for a unique cultural gathering. People from over a hundred villages in Karbi Anglong and Meghalaya will come together to participate in the ancient exchange of goods without using money. This time-honored tradition remains distinct from modern economic practices.

The mela will reconnect hill and plain communities, turning Jonbeel into a shared space filled with memory, tradition, and history.

The Jonbeel Mela Committee confirmed that all arrangements are in place. Like in previous years, the fair is expected to showcase Assam’s cultural diversity by bringing together various ethnic groups around a common tradition. By excluding modern currency from transactions, the mela highlights a barter system that is quite rare globally.

The fair will officially start tomorrow morning with flag hoisting and traditional rituals. This will be followed by the launch of houses that represent the traditional Tiwa way of life. Hill communities will then arrive at the venue to take part in the exchange of goods.

On January 23, the historic barter market will open in the morning. This will be followed by a community fishing event at Jonbeel lake, a practice that symbolises teamwork and unity.

After the barter exchange, the traditional Tiwa ‘Rajdarbar’ will take place, which is expected to be attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Pijush Hazarika, Morigaon MLA Ramakanta Dewri, and Tiwa Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Jiban Chandra Konwar, among others.

The three-day program will also feature poets’ meets in Tiwa and Assamese, cultural performances with traditional music and dance, and a food fair showcasing a variety of indigenous dishes.

Thought to have begun around the 15th century, the Jonbeel Mela was first organised under the patronage of the Ahom kings, who used the event to discuss economic, political, and social issues of the time. Over the years, it has become one of India’s oldest surviving fairs, largely supported by community involvement.

Held each year during Magh at historic Dayang Belguri, the fair takes its name from the Jonbeel lake next to the main venue. An Agni Puja marks the start of the mela, followed by community fishing, both meant to foster group well-being and social ties. At its heart, the fair promotes ideals of harmony and brotherhood among the diverse communities of the Northeast.

During the mela, hill communities bring herbs, spices, turmeric, ginger, fruits, and forest products, which they exchange for rice, fish, pithas, and other essentials from the plains. Thousands of villagers from around Assam gather at the site, staying in temporary bamboo structures put up for the duration of the fair.

As part of the tradition, the Tiwa king, the Gova Raja, visits the mela with his courtiers, collects ceremonial revenues, and later joins everyone for a communal feast on the banks of the lake.

Beyond just trade, the Jonbeel Mela serves as a lively cultural space filled with folk songs, traditional dances, indigenous attire, and shared rituals. More than a marketplace, it stands as a reminder of interdependence, coexistence, and continuity, values that continue to shape Assam’s social fabric.

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