Why in the News?

Prime Minister witnessed the largest-ever Jhumur dance performance in Guwahati, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Assam’s tea industry.

What are Tea Tribes/Tea Garden Communities of Assam?

The Tea Tribes or Tea Garden Communities of Assam are descendants of laborers brought by the British in the 19th century to work in tea plantations.
These workers were mainly from Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh.
Many were brought through forced migration, and even voluntary migration occurred under exploitative conditions.
They were subjected to poor wages, inhumane working conditions, and restricted mobility.
The community is concentrated in Upper Assam districts like Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Sonitpur, and Sivasagar, and in the Barak Valley.
They currently have Other Backward Classes (OBC) Status but demand Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, as many of their sub-groups, like Munda, Santhal, and Oraon, hold ST status in their original states.
Despite adversity, the Tea Garden Communities preserved their cultural identity, with distinct festivals, music, and dance forms.
- Their major festivals include Tushu Puja and Karam Puja, celebrated with the traditional Jhumur dance.

Jhumur (also spelled Jhumoir or Jhumair) is a folk dance of the Sadan ethnolinguistic group, mainly practised by Assam’s Tea Garden Communities.
It originated in Chotanagpur Plateau (Jharkhand, Odisha, Bengal, and Chhattisgarh) and was brought to Assam during the British colonial era.
Over time, it blended with Assamese culture, incorporating Assamese musical and linguistic influences.
Performance and Style:
- Women are the primary dancers, standing shoulder-to-shoulder in synchronized formations.
- Men accompany them with traditional instruments like madal, dhol, dhak (drums), cymbals, flutes, and shehnai.
- Attire: Women wear red and white sarees, while men wear kurta-dhoti with gamocha (traditional Assamese cloth).
Jhumur songs depict both celebration and hardship, narrating:
- Love and Nature – Seasonal changes, harvest, and romance.
- Hardships of Tea Workers – Struggles, migration, and exploitation.
- Festivals and Community Life – Unity, faith, and social cohesion.
It serves as a cultural bridge, helping retain their traditions and forge a unique identity in Assam.

[2021] With reference to India, the terms ‘Halbi, Ho and Kui’ pertain to:

(a) Dance forms of Northwest India

(b) Musical instruments

(d) Tribal languages