Guwahati: Jonbeel Mela, the three-day fair held annually after Bhogali Bihu at Dayang Belguri on the banks of Jonbeel near Jagiroad in Morigaon district, will start from January 21. It’s perhaps the only public fair where the paper currency is banned (almost) and the old-age practice of bartering products still exists.
For three days, the fair venue gets chock-a-block with people. From trading in the age-old barter system — the sine qua non of the fair — to the bonding it knots between various tribes and communities, Jonbeel Mela has its own special significance among the locales.
Rural people descending from the nearby hills exchange their produce like ginger, turmeric, potatoes, arum, chillies and other herbs with whatever people from the plains have to offer.
Organized under the patronage of the Gobha kingdom since 15th Century, the titular Gobha king still oversees the arrangements for the fair and conducts a “durbar” on the concluding day of the event. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is likely to attend the event on the concluding day on Jan 23 and will distribute the Rajbhatta to 18 traditional Rajas.
“The Mela will start with a community feast from Thursday. On Friday, the event will be marked by the traditional barter system, where the people of the hills will exchange their agricultural products with foodstuffs like chira and pitha brought by the people of the plains. And on Saturday, the Gobha king will collect token taxes from the people and Mela will come to an end,” an organizer said.
The organizer also added, “This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the open fair (mela) and cultural functions will not be held. The celebration committee in this connection has called upon each and all to follow COVID protocol while enjoying the events of the Jonbeel Mela. We will strictly follow all the protocols and maintain social distancing. We also urge the people whoever is planning to come down and enjoy the Mela should wear a mask and follow all the COVID-19 protocols laid by us for everyone’s safety.”
