Sentinel Digital Desk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will witness the “biggest ever” Jhumoir performance today at Guwahati’s Sarusajai Stadium. Around 8,600 dancers will perform at Jhumoir Binandini 2025 to celebrate 200 years of Assam’s tea industry.
The event marks the opening of the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that along with PM Modi, ambassadors from 60 nations will witness this historic performance.
Who Are Assam’s Tea Garden Communities?
The tea garden workers, often called “tea tribes,” are descendants of migrants from Central India. They were brought by the British in the 19th century to work in Assam’s tea estates under harsh conditions.
Many workers faced extreme exploitation, poor wages, and even punishments for trying to leave. Today, their descendants mainly live in districts like Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Golaghat, and Sonitpur, and have OBC status, though they have long demanded ST recognition.
What Is the Jhumoir Dance?
Jhumoir is a traditional folk dance brought by tea garden workers from the Chotanagpur region. It is a key part of tea garden festivals like Tushu Puja and Karam Puja, which celebrate the harvest season.
Women are the main dancers, while men play instruments like the madal, dhol, and shehnai. Dressed in red and white sarees, dancers move in coordinated steps, singing in languages that blend Assamese with their native tongues.
Jhumoir represents the resilience and identity of Assam’s tea garden community. It is not just a dance but a powerful expression of history, struggle, and celebration.