Brahmaputra Plains - Region

The Brahmaputra River

With a width of 3-16 kilometers, average 5-10 km, and a depth of upto 120 meters/average 40 meters, the Brahmaputra river is the most important factor of this region. It is one of the Major rivers of the world: 10th largest in water discharge and 30th in length. Though this region is normally called the "Upper Brahmaputra Plains", simply "Brahmaputra Plains" is adequate as the river is called by that name Only in this Region, while only by other names outside of it.







Language - Assamese 

And Rangpuri in the Koch Sub-Region which is Assamese/Bengali


Culture

There are 2 types of Hindu temple in this Region.
The Hindu orthodox temples which are frequently called "Than"(as in "Sthan") and the Assamese Vaishnavism places of worship are Namghar and Satra, as described below.
The temple of the Tribal religions in the area and surrounding Hills are also called "Than".
The people of this region are commonly Non-Vegetarian.

In the early 1500 ce, a variety of Vaishnavism was established by Srimanta Sankaradev, called variously as Mahapushiya, Ekasarana or Ekasarana Harinama - Dharma. "Namghar" are the congregational places of Kirtan and worship. The Mutt/monastery are called "Satra / Xatra", numbering some 900 at present in the region. The dance form "Sattriya" also originates from the Satras. Namghar and Satra contain a pyrimidica Manikut, similar to the temples of Bali. While the main teaching is Kirtan and Sravan of the Bhagavata, without diety worship, some sub-sects engage in deity worship(Majuli, Koch Bihar). Caste distinction through primordially renounced, has since come to vary by sub-sects.

Arts

Sattriya dance
Bihu dance
Assam Masks

Music



Peoples


The region is composed of mainly 2 peoples: the indigenous Kachari super-tribe and the open status Ahom (without considerig the recent Bengali Muslim migrations).

The Kachari are one of the 4 Kirata Tribes of the Puranas. The main denominations of Kachari in the Brahmaputra Plains are: Sutiya, Sonowal, Dimasa, Koch and Boro(Bodo). The Kachari also inhabit the North East Hill Regions the biggest being the - Tripuri, Garo, Rabha, Hajong, etc.  Most Kachari denominations in ancient times came to identify themselves as Hindu-Kacharis, with only the Boro (not BoDo)maintaining their original Tribal Religion and identification. Originally collectively called the "Boro Kachari" which i think comes from "Big Council or Court"  Bengali boro=big, Kachari = court, council) in reference to their being by far the biggest and most widespread Group/Tribe of the North-East. Although in modern times all commonly called "Kachari", the "Bodo" have inherited the name "Boro". The Kachari collectively form above 60% of the Brahmaputra Plains(excluding Bengali Muslims of Assam State), as well as about 3 million in the adjoining Hill Regions as well. All Kachari People (12-15 million) are categorically Hindu(+85%) with the exception of the Garo - mostly Christian(1 million) and the Bodo - Tribal/Hindu (1.5 million).

"Assam" is the British name for "Ahom". The Ahom originate from the establishment of a kingdom by a prince from Tai-Chin and his Tai army whom married and subsumed local Kachari denominations, therafter developing into a "open status group". By the time of the British this kingdom had become the dominant one in middle Assam. The "Ahom" form about 40% of the population of the Brahmaputra Plains(excluding Bengali Muslims of Assam state).




Sub-Regions of the Brahmaputra Plains


Koch Plains - of the Koch-Rajbongshi---Kachari people/kingdom, North West Brahmaputra Plains and tributaries.
Part of a much larger now trans-national Kamata Region(see Other Maps - Trans-National Regions page), While the Kamata Region as a whole is categorically neither Bengali nor Assamese - being a equal combination of the 2, the Koch Plains part of it is closer to Assam and in all ways culturally and ethnically more Assamese than Bengali. The Koch-Rajbongshi-Kachari, as distinct from other Koch-Kachari subtribes are the earliest and most modified Kachari due to proximity to Bengal.

Boro Plains - of the Bodo-Kachari people, North-Central Brahmaputra Plains
Unlike all other major Kachari denominations, the Boro retained their Tribal Religion and Culture until only the British era when the tribes of the Patkai Hills were being Christianized, in to response to which they adopted Hindu ritual, and thus are Tribal/Hindu explaining their political stance in Assam state.

Sutiya Plains - of the Sutiya-Kachari people/kingdom, North and Upper Brahmaputra plains

Sonowal Plains - of the Sonowal-Kachari people/kingdom, South-East Brahmaputra Plains

Ahom Plains - land of the Ahom an open status peoples/kingdom, Middle and South Brahmaputra Plains.

East Ahom Plains - separated from the Middle Assam Plains by Hills. Location of original Ahom kingdom.






Brahmaputra Plains Region - Immigrant Bangladeshi Muslim Concentration Areas, based on 2011 Census

Outlines of the Orange Areas are more accurate and Tehsil-wise(on the map). The Green Area and the Orange area to its north is General.

The Areas/Tehsil with Red border have 90-100% Hindu Population or 0-5% Muslim Population(see Upper Assam Note)

Areas/Tehsil with Orange border have Moderately Low (15-25%) Muslim Population.

Areas/Tehsil with Yellow border have Moderately High(25-35%) Muslim Population

Areas/Tehsil with Green border are High Muslim Population (40-80%)

See individual Outlines for % details.

Notes: 

Upper Assam - In 36 tehsil Muslim are 0-6%. In 5 tehsil 10-12% and in 2 tehsil 18%, Plains of Arunachal Pradesh included on map, but not in above tehsil summary.

Assam Hills – 0-2% Muslim population, include some plains areas under autonomous councils.

Brahmaputra Plains Region - Detailed
Temples and Places of the Brahmaputra Plains Region