| Moidams • Moidams are the mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty, dating back 700 years. • Traditionally the Ahoms buried their dead. The Moidams are the burial mounds of the Ahom kings, Queens and Nobles. • The word Moidam is derived from the Tai word Phrang-Mai-Dam or Mai-Tam. Phrang-Mai means to put into the grave or to bury and Dam means the spirit of the Dead. • Though Moidams are found in all the districts of upper Assam, Charaideo, the first capital of the Ahoms was the necropolis of almost all the Ahom Royals. • Moidams represent a unique form of mortuary architecture, blending local traditions with those brought by the Ahom rulers from Southeast Asia. |
- Assam’s 700-year-old Moidams, the mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty, are being considered for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- The nomination dossier was submitted over a decade ago and is currently on the tentative list, which is the first step towards inclusion on the final list.
- If successful, it will be the first cultural site from northeastern India to achieve this status.
- The nomination will be reviewed during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in New Delhi, from July 21 to 31. This session marks the first time India is hosting the WHC.
- The WHC session will also examine 28 proposed sites for inscription, categorized as natural, mixed, and cultural.
- Additionally, the committee will discuss the conservation status of 124 already inscribed sites, including 57 listed as World Heritage in Danger.
- Currently, the World Heritage List includes 1,199 sites across 168 countries, with 44 of these located in India.
| UNESCO World Heritage Sites • UNESCO World Heritage Sites are landmarks or areas recognized for their cultural, historical, scientific, or other forms of significance. • To be included on the list, sites must meet at least one of ten criteria set by UNESCO, ranging from representing a masterpiece of human creative genius to containing exceptional natural beauty. • As of now, India has 44 World Heritage Sites, including famous landmarks like the Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, and Kaziranga National Park. |
Dig Deeper: Read about Ahom history and their important leaders and battles
