Assamese Traditional Icon “Japi”: History And Diversity

The Japi plays a pivotal role in the Assamese society and its culture. It is a beautiful realization of man made construction. Japi has a rich and dynamic history of its own. The invention of Japi was done to protect farmers from the rain and heat while they are working in their farm lands. And in the later days of its evolution, the Japi became an integral symbol of representation for the Assamese society as a whole. During the days of Ahom regime, everyone from housewives, priest, daily workers to children everybody were seen using the Japi in their daily life. In a traditional Assamese wedding, there is a ritual for the groom in which he has to collect water from river, which is done, holding a Japi over his head. Even today, in the most rural parts of the state, this tradition is still alive, but the Japi is continuously being replaced by the easy availability of modern umbrellas. With the advancement of time and creation, the Japi too started to evolve to its present form, where it is alarmingly replaced by the inventions of umbrella‟s and raincoats. Still, in a much prolific way, the farmers tediously use the Japi despite other inventions, as it is deep rooted in their culture to use one. While in another aspect, the decorative Phoolam Japi is getting much limelight in modern times. In due course of time, the Phoolam Japi has become the integral part of the greater Assamese community and its culture and tradition. In cases of honoring guest and showing respect to someone the use of Phoolam Japi is extensively used in the Assamese community. Even in the medium of Bihu folk dance , the Japi adds a sense of pride and elegance to the entire dance form and its arrangements. As a complete representation of the Assamese community, people like to decorate their houses and offices including the government with Japis of different size and structure. This is a beautiful dilemma that, even in the stage of extinction of the Pani Japi and its siblings, or in other words, the motto with which the Japi was created to save oneself from the heat and rain is seen to be vanishing because of modern inventions. On the other hand, the Phoolam Japi has started to awe the global crowd and stand tall while representing the greater Assamese society. Hence this study will, study the rich and progressive history of the iconic „Japi‟ and will provide better scope for further discussions in this regard.