Okhela

Okhela. Okhela is a small town located in the Golaghat district of Assam, India, near the Brahmaputra River and the Kaziranga National Park. The town is situated close to the Karbi Anglong district and is inhabited by people from various ethnic groups, including the Karbi people, Bodo people, and Assamese people. The nearby Numaligarh Refinery and Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited are major industrial establishments in the region, employing people from Dibrugarh, Jorhat, and Sivasagar.

Introduction

Okhela is a significant town in the Golaghat district of Assam, with a rich history and cultural heritage. The town is surrounded by the Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is home to various wildlife sanctuaries, including the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary and the Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary. The nearby Brahmaputra River and its tributaries, such as the Dhansiri River and the Jia Bhoreli River, provide a source of livelihood for the people of Okhela, who are engaged in fishing, agriculture, and trade with neighboring towns like Tezpur, Dhekiajuli, and Biswanath Chariali. The town is also close to the Karbi Anglong district, which is inhabited by the Karbi people, an indigenous tribe of Assam.

Etymology

The name "Okhela" is derived from the Assamese language and is believed to be related to the Ahom language, which was spoken by the Ahom people, the rulers of the Ahom Kingdom. The Ahom Kingdom was a powerful kingdom that ruled Assam from the 13th to the 19th century and had significant influence on the culture and language of the region, including the development of the Assamese alphabet and the Assamese literature. The name "Okhela" may be related to the Ahom word for "water" or "river", which is consistent with the town's location near the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries, such as the Subansiri River and the Kameng River. The Assamese language is also spoken in neighboring states like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.

Geography

Okhela is located in the Golaghat district of Assam, near the Brahmaputra River and the Kaziranga National Park. The town is situated in the Brahmaputra Valley, which is a fertile region with rich soil and abundant water resources. The nearby Kaziranga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including the Indian rhinoceros, Asian elephant, and Bengal tiger. The town is also close to the Karbi Anglong district, which is a hilly region with a diverse range of flora and fauna, including the Kaziranga National Park and the Manas National Park. The Brahmaputra River and its tributaries, such as the Dhansiri River and the Jia Bhoreli River, provide a source of livelihood for the people of Okhela, who are engaged in fishing, agriculture, and trade with neighboring towns like Guwahati, Silchar, and Dibrugarh.

History

Okhela has a rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Ahom Kingdom. The Ahom Kingdom was a powerful kingdom that ruled Assam from the 13th to the 19th century and had significant influence on the culture and language of the region, including the development of the Assamese alphabet and the Assamese literature. The town was an important center of trade and commerce during the Ahom Kingdom, with merchants from neighboring regions like Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa coming to the town to buy and sell goods like silk, spices, and tea. The town was also a significant center of learning and culture, with many educational institutions and cultural organizations being established in the region, including the Cotton College, Guwahati and the Assam University. The British East India Company also played a significant role in the history of Okhela, with the company establishing tea gardens and industrial establishments in the region, including the Assam Tea Company and the Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited.

Culture

Okhela has a rich and diverse culture, with influences from the Ahom Kingdom, Assamese culture, and other neighboring regions like Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. The town is home to many festivals and celebrations, including the Bihu festival, Durga Puja, and Diwali, which are celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor by the people of Okhela, who are predominantly Hindu and Muslim. The town is also known for its traditional crafts, including weaving, pottery, and woodcarving, which are made by skilled artisans from neighboring towns like Sivasagar, Jorhat, and Dibrugarh. The Assamese language and literature are also an important part of the culture of Okhela, with many writers and poets from the region, including Bhakti movement poets like Sankardev and Madhavdev, making significant contributions to the Assamese literature. The town is also close to the Karbi Anglong district, which is home to the Karbi people, an indigenous tribe of Assam with their own unique culture and traditions.