Jonbeel Mela: Five centuries of cashless transactions in Tiwa fair
Cashless transactions have gained currency in recent years but barter existed long before it and is still being used by the Tiwa tribe in their annual trade fair for five centuries.
PTI
In the three-day 'Jonbeel Mela', which historians date to the 15th century, the age-old barter system prevails instead of the use of money for procuring and selling goods, making it perhaps the only one of its kind in the country.
During the mela, held in a small hamlet about 32 km from here, members of Karbi, Khasi and Jaintia tribes from neighbouring hills, besides the Tiwas come with their products and exchange them, says Jorsing Bordoloi, the secretary of Jonbeel Mela Development Samiti.
The event is held by the Tiwas, a tribe of central Assam and neighbouring Meghalaya, in the third week of January at Morigaon.
The Jonbeel Mela has promoted peace and brotherhood between the people of the hills and plains since the medieval period, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said and announced that 20 bighas of land will be allotted soon by the government for a permanent site.