Mound-burial system of Ahom dynasty in Assam included in UNESCO World Heritage List
New Delhi (PTI): The mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty in Assam -- 'Moidams' -- was on Friday included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, making it the first cultural property from the Northeast to get the coveted tag.
The decision was taken during the ongoing 46th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) being held in India.
'Moidams' was submitted as India's nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the year 2023-24.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was a matter of "immense joy and pride" for India that 'Moidams' had made it to the WHC list
"The Moidams at Charaideo showcase the glorious Ahom culture, which places utmost reverence to ancestors. I hope more people learn about the great Ahom rule and culture. Glad that the Moidams join the #WorldHeritage List," he said.
The unique burial mounds, represented by pyramid-like structures known as 'Moidams', were used by the Tai-Ahom dynasty that ruled Assam for around 600 years.
'Moidams' are vaulted chambers (chow-chali), often double-storied, that has an arched passage for entry. Atop the hemispherical mud mounds, layers of bricks and earth are laid. The base of the mound is reinforced by a polygonal toe-wall and an arched gateway on the west, according to the UNESCO website.
"Eventually, the mound would be covered by a layer of vegetation, reminiscent of a group of hillocks, transforming the area into an undulating landscape," the description of 'Moidams' said.
Excavation shows each vaulted chamber has a centrally-raised platform where the body was laid. Several objects used by the deceased during his life, like royal insignia, objects made of wood, ivory or iron, gold pendants, ceramic ware, weapons, clothes to the extent of human beings (only from the Luk-kha-khun clan) were buried with their king, according to the website.
Reacting to 'Moidams' receiving the UNESCO tag, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said it is a day "etched in golden letters" and thanked UNESCO, the World Heritage Committee for understanding the outstanding universal value of 'Moidams'.
The session of the WHC being held at the Bharat Mandapam here from July 21 to July 31, will examine 27 nominations from across the world, including 19 cultural sites, four natural sites and two mixed sites.
India is hosting the key event of UNESCO for the first time.
Ahead of the start of the session, Janhwij Sharma, additional director general of the Archaeological Survey of India, told reporters that ICOMOS, an advisory body to UNESCO, had recommended favourably for the inscription of the 'Moidams' which meant that it "fulfils all those parameters".
The Paris-based International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is one of the key advisory bodies to UNESCO and its experts visit the nominated sites.
Vishal V Sharma, chairperson of the WHC and ambassador and permanent representative of India to UNESCO, had said in a press conference that if the nomination gets accepted, it would be the first cultural property from the Northeast to get a UNESCO tag.
The Kaziranga National Park and the Manas National Park fall in the natural and mixed heritage categories respectively, he added.
In an interview with PTI on Monday, Sharma said he was hopeful that 'Moidams' would make it to the list.
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Heavy rain, hailstorms lash parts of Uttarakhand; all districts put on high alert
Dehradun (PTI): Heavy rain and hailstorms accompanied by strong winds lashed several districts of Uttarakhand on Sunday morning, prompting the state administration to put all district authorities on high alert.
The sudden change in weather caused uprooted trees to block roads and disrupted power supply at various locations.
Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman chaired a review meeting with district officials to assess the situation.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rain and thunderstorms at most places across all districts for Monday and Tuesday. Snowfall is expected in regions situated at altitudes of 4,000 metres and above.
An 'orange alert' remains in place for Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar. These districts are likely to witness isolated heavy rain, hailstorms, and intense to very intense spells of rain accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph, the IMD said.
The weather office predicted that maximum temperatures across the state are likely to fall by 3-5 degrees Celsius over the next three to four days. During the past 24 hours, maximum temperatures remained "markedly below normal" in the plains and ranged from "markedly" to "appreciably" below normal in the hilly regions.
Dehradun experienced dark, overcast skies early Sunday, creating night-like conditions during morning hours. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 34.7 degrees Celsius, 5.3 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average.
For the state capital, the forecast predicts a partly to generally cloudy sky with a high of 31 degrees Celsius and a low of 19 degrees Celsius.
Significant rainfall was recorded across the state after 8.30 am on Sunday, with Jollygrant receiving 21.6 mm and Mohakampur recording 19.8 mm. Other areas, including Mukteshwar (15.0 mm), Mussoorie (13.4 mm), and Pithoragarh (8.5 mm), also saw measurable precipitation.
Secretary Suman directed officials to clear blocked roads on priority to ensure public convenience. Specific instructions were issued regarding the Char Dham Yatra, ordering that helicopter services must operate strictly according to weather conditions to ensure pilgrims' safety.
Isolated places in the remaining hilly districts are also expected to experience thunderstorms with lightning and intense rain spells.
