Awesome Bor Asom

Introduction

Assam, nestled in the heart of Northeast India, is a land of immense cultural diversity, ancient traditions, natural beauty, and vibrant communities. From sacred temples and archaeological marvels to the colorful rhythms of Bihu and the quiet elegance of orchids and butterflies—Assam is a living museum of heritage. Yet, much of its visual and cultural wealth remains underrepresented on global knowledge platforms.

“Asom Drishya” is a photography-focused project to document, preserve, and share Assam’s visual heritage on Wikimedia Commons. Through good-quality, freely licensed images, this initiative aims to make Assam’s cultural and natural richness accessible to the world.

Proposed by

JyotiPN

Project Scopes and Focus Areas

Cultural Programs & Folk Traditions

• Festivals: Bihu, Ali-Ai-Ligang, Baishagu, Ambubachi Mela, Jonbeel Mela, etc.
• Folk dances and music (e.g. Bihu, Sattriya, Ojapali, Deodhani)
• Community cultural events, theatre, and rural performances
• Traditional attire, instruments, crafts, and cuisine

Architectural & Heritage Sites

• Ancient temples (Kamakhya, Madan Kamdev, etc.)
• Satras, Namghars, and monasteries
• Royal buildings, colonial-era architecture, archaeological ruins

Biodiversity & Ecology

• Rare and endemic birds, butterflies, and orchids
• River islands, sacred groves, and rural landscapes
• Local farming practices and eco-centric traditions

Knowledge Spaces & Oral Traditions

• Indigenous libraries and manuscript archives
• Traditional healers, local historians, and oral knowledge bearers
• Institutions preserving cultural memory
• Museums

Objectives

• Upload and curate a rich collection of freely licensed images from across Assam on Wikimedia Commons.
• Improve visual representation of Assam in Wikipedia articles and Wikidata entries.
• Raise awareness about cultural documentation and open knowledge.
• Encourage local participation, especially youth, photographers, and cultural activists.

Why This Project Matters

Assam’s diversity is deep-rooted and ever-evolving. However, without proper digital documentation, much of its culture, traditions, and biodiversity risk fading from public memory. This project creates a permanent, accessible, and free visual archive that can support education, research, and cultural understanding—both locally and globally.

Expected Outcomes

• A dedicated Wikimedia Commons category for well-described, geo-tagged visuals from Assam.
• Enriched visual content across Wikimedia projects related to Assam.
• New contributors from Assam engaging with Wikimedia.
• Materials that support heritage preservation and cultural literacy.

Support Sought

• Technical guidance on Wikimedia uploading, categorization, and multilingual captioning.
• Local collaborations with historians, artists, NGOs, and knowledge keepers.
• Micro-grants (if applicable) for travel, documentation gear, or workshops.