Moidams

27 Jul 2024

The Mound-Burial System of Ahom Dynasty Inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List as India’s 43rd Entry

About: The Moidams are burial grounds for Tai Ahom kings and queens. They house the mortal remains of Ahom royalty along with cherished objects.
Word Origin: The term ‘Moidam’ comes from the Tai words Phrang-Mai-Dam or Mai-Tam. “Phrang-Mai” means “to bury” and “Dam” refers to “the spirit of the dead.”
Location: The Moidams are located in Charaideo district, Assam, serving as the resting place for royal families.
Structure: Moidams are hemispherical burial mounds of varying sizes, reflecting the deceased’s status. They consist of a chamber, an earthen mound with a brick structure for offerings, and an octagonal boundary wall with an arched gateway facing west.
- Smaller Moidams may lack some features.
Comparable to: Moidams are similar to the pyramids of Egypt.
Practice Adopted From: After the 18th century, Ahom rulers adopted Hindu cremation methods and began entombing the cremated remains in Moidams at Charaideo.
Practice Ceased: The burial practice ended when Tai Ahom rulers converted to other religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
Factors Affecting the Property: Heavy rainfall, soil erosion, and vegetation growth pose challenges to the preservation and maintenance of Moidams.
Cultural Significance: The Ahom Moidams are a remarkable example of a Tai-Ahom necropolis, illustrating their funerary traditions and cosmologies.

About: The Ahom Dynasty (1228–1826), also known as the Kingdom of Assam in mediaeval times, was a prominent kingdom in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam.
Control: It remained sovereign for nearly 600 years and effectively resisted Mughal expansion into North-East India.
- The dynasty established control over the Brahmaputra valley and had a significant impact on the region’s political and social life.
Background: Founded by Sukaphaa, a Shan prince from Mong Mao who crossed the Patkai Mountains into Assam, the dynasty is commonly referred to as the Ahom kingdom in colonial and later periods.
- However, it was a multi-ethnic kingdom, with Ahom people constituting less than 10% of the population by the end of its reign.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

About: A World Heritage site is a landmark or area granted legal protection under an international convention managed by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
Designated By: UNESCO designates these sites for their cultural, historical, scientific, or other significant values.
Backed By: This designation is supported by the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, established by UNESCO in 1972.
Tentative List: Countries identify sites with “outstanding universal value” for potential inclusion on the World Heritage List. This list is published by the World Heritage Centre.

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