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Assam: The Moidams of the Ahom Dynasty in Assam have been declared India’s 43rd World Heritage Site on Friday during the 46th World Heritage Committee session in New Delhi.
The Moidams are burial mounds of Ahom kings, queens, and nobles in Assam. The name “Moidam” comes from the Tai words “Phrang-Mai-Dam” or “Mai-Tam,” meaning to bury and the spirit of the dead.
Each Moidam has three main parts:
1. A vault or chamber where the body is placed.
2. A hemispherical earthen mound covering the chamber.
3. A brick structure (Chaw-chali) on top for annual offerings and an octagonal boundary wall with an arched gateway.
The size of the Moidams ranges from small mounds to large hillocks, depending on the status and resources of the deceased. Originally, vaults were made of wooden poles and beams but were replaced with stone and brick during the reign of King Rudra Singha (CE 1696-1714).
Inside the vault, the dead were buried with their belongings, including clothes, ornaments, and weapons. The burial also included valuables and, at times, living or dead attendants.
The practice of burying people alive was abolished by King Rudra Singha.
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