• Guwahati's Sarusajai Stadium hosted Jhumoir Binandini 2025, a grand cultural event celebrating the 200th anniversary of Assam's tea industry. Know about the dance and see lovely pictures of performances. 

On February 24, 2025, Guwahati's Sarusajai Stadium hosted Jhumoir Binandini 2025, a grand cultural event celebrating the 200th anniversary of Assam's tea industry. The event showcased the rich heritage of the tea tribe communities through the traditional Jhumur dance, a folk dance symbolizing unity and cultural pride among Assam's tea tribes and Adivasi communities. 

Highlights of the Event

Massive Participation: Over 9,000 performers from various tea garden communities participated, aiming to set a world record for the largest Jhumur dance performance. 

Prime Minister's Involvement: Prime Minister Narendra Modi graced the occasion, actively engaging by playing the "Dhomsa," a traditional drum of the tea garden community. He emphasized his personal connection to tea, stating, "Who will know the color and fragrance of tea more than a tea seller." 

PM Modi playing the Dhomsa.

PM Modi with a traditional bow and arrow. 

PM Modi at inauguration of Hornbill Festival, Nagaland in 2014. 

Cultural Significance: The event highlighted Assam's syncretic cultural mélange, embodying the spirit of inclusivity and unity inherent in the Jhumur dance tradition. 

Jhumoir Binandini 2025 not only celebrated a significant milestone in Assam's tea industry but also brought national attention to the cultural contributions of the tea tribe communities, reinforcing their integral role in the state's heritage.

For the first time the entire community was honoured by Honorable Chief Minister and Honorable Prime Minister.

Since the last four months co ordination in tea gardens was going on. Sixteen districts were represented in the dance. 

A recorded prototype dance was taken to common tea garden worker and every evening they practiced for one hour. 

After day long hard labour they enjoyed to practice dance. Moreover all were thrilled to dance together and make a world record.

Finally it was achieved which boosted the confidence of the community. For three days they all practiced together at Guwahati and every day Honorable Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma encouraged them with his gracious presence and inspiring words. He himself danced with them and made them feel at home.

9000 youth of the Tea community brought glory to the State and Nation. eSamskriti is very grateful to Meena Didi for sharing write up and pictures.

Tea plucking at tea estate near Dibrugarh, Assam.  

We present pictures of the event. Some pics by author whilst others taken from PM Modi’s twitter handle (copyright with him). Refer tweets one and two.

Editor Notes-

According to this Indian Express article, “The term “tea tribe” loosely refers to a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic community of tea garden workers and their descendants. These people came from Central India-mostly from present-day Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal-and settled in Assam in the 19th century to work in the tea gardens that the British were setting up. 

Women are the main dancers and singers, while men play traditional instruments such as madal, dhol, or dhak (drums), cymbals, flutes, and shehnai.

The attire worn varies from community to community, although red and white sarees are particularly popular among women. Dancers stand shoulder-to-shoulder and move in coordinated patterns with precise footwork.”

Also read

1. Jhumoir takes global stage – “Kailash Tanti, a performer from Udalguri told The Assam Tribune. Tanti also noted that they never imagined that the jhumoir dance can also be performed in such a grand way.”
2. PM Modi speech