Charaideo Moidam, is the first cultural site from the Northeast to be included in UNESCO World Heritage list. UNESCO World Heritage Committee has declared Ahom dynasties’ Charaideo Moidam of Eastern Assam as India’s 43rd World Heritage Site, during UNESCO’s 46th World Heritage Committee session in New Delhi. Moidam was nominated as India’s candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage List for 2023-24. Now, India has 43 sites out of 1223 sites of 168 countries, inscribed by the World Heritage Committee.
It is the first cultural property in Northeast India to receive this prestigious recognition from the United Nations agency that works to promote educational, scientific and cultural development.
What are Moidams?
Moidams, a 700-year-old mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty. The royal cemetery of the Tai-Ahom kingdom is located in the foothills of the Patkai range in Assam. A total of 90 Moidams of various sizes have been found here, inside which hollow arches made of brick, stone or clay are visible. Moidams are earthen mounds built over the graves of Ahom royals and nobility. Ahom kings and queens were buried inside these Moidams. Inside the chambers of the Moidams, remains of dead kings and other royals are found, along with grave goods such as food, horses and elephants, and sometimes remains of queens and servants. The Tai-Ahom rituals of “Me-Dam-Me-Phi” and “Tarpan” are performed in the Charaideo cemetery. The height of the Moidam usually reflects the power and stature of the person buried inside. However, most of the Moidams are unknown except for Gadadhar Singha and Rudra Singha.
In Hindu traditions the dead body is cremated by fire. However, the main funeral method of the Ahom people who originated from the Tai people was burial in the ground. This similarity of ancient Egyptian and Ahom burial rites has led to the Charaideo Moidam being called the “Pyramid of Assam“.
According to information found on the UNESCO website, during their nearly 600 years of reign, the Tai-Ahoms built these Moidams by mimicking the natural topography of hills, forests and water, creating a sacred geography. Banyan trees and bark trees used for coffins and manuscripts were also planted and water bodies were created.