Assam Commemorates Asom Diwas with Grand Celebrations
Celebrating Asom Diwas in Assam
Guwahati, Dec 2: Assam marked Asom Diwas, also referred to as Sui-Ka-Pha Diwas, with various ceremonies held across several districts to pay tribute to Swargadeu Chaolung Sui-ka-pha, the founder of the Ahom kingdom, on Tuesday.
The main event took place in Nazira, where a newly erected statue of the Ahom King was unveiled following traditional Tai Ahom Ban-Phi rituals.
Assam Cabinet Minister Piyush Hazarika officiated the statue's inauguration, which was constructed at a cost of ₹1.9 crore by the Tai Ahom Development Council.
“Sui-ka-pha sacrificed his own identity to forge and unify the Assamese identity. We honor him daily, and I encourage every Assamese to preserve his memory and legacy,” Hazarika expressed to the attendees.
The festivities commenced with a cultural procession from the statue location to the Nazira District Sports Association field, culminating in an open-air public gathering featuring Tai folk performances and the state anthem.
This event received support from the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Tai Ahom Development Council, and the Tai Ahom Students’ Union.
Notable attendees included Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Bora, Minister Jogen Mohan, MLAs Sushanta Borgohain, Dharmeshwar Konwar, and Pradip Hazarika, along with Cultural Affairs Director Rahul Chandra Das and Tai Ahom Development Council president Mayur Borgohain.
In Charaideo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sui-Ka-Pha Diwas was celebrated with equal enthusiasm. The Tai Ahom Students’ Union, Sui-Ka-Pha Regional Committee, and local residents organized rituals and cultural activities at the historic Charaideo Maidam, honoring its 600-year-old heritage.
Cultural procession in Nazira.
Sonari MLA Dharmeshwar Konwar, who lit the ceremonial lamp, remarked, “Sui-ka-pha, who arrived in 1218, united various communities to create a Greater Assam. What was once known as Sui-Ka-Pha Diwas is now officially recognized as Asom Diwas by the government.”
He expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for obtaining World Heritage status for Charaideo and mentioned that a new university named after the legendary Ahom King has been approved, with the bill passed on November 29.
“Charaideo Maidam and this university will serve as enduring symbols of his timeless legacy,” Konwar stated.
In Moran, the Tai Ahom Yuba Parishad, Assam (TAYPA), initiated a three-day commemoration starting from November 30.
“We celebrate Sui-Ka-Pha Diwas to honor the leader who unified small communities into Bor Asom. Without him, external forces could have dominated this land,” a TAYPA member commented.
Additionally, it was announced that Tipra Motha chief, Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, will receive the Sui-Ka-Pha Award this year to enhance cultural connections between Assam and Tripura.