THE IMPACT OF MODERNIZATION ON JUNBEEL MELA: CONTINUITY AND CHANGE

Abstract

Junbeel Mela is a traditional fair of the Tiwa tribe of Assam, India which has been a cultural event for centuries and is known for its barter system and cultural activities. However, the process of modernization has brought some changes in the economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects of the Mela. This paper aims to analyze the effects of modernization on Junbeel Mela with special reference to the aspects of continuity and change. Based on ethnographic observations, interviews with the members of the Mela community, and historical records, this paper examines how modernization has impacted Mela’s practices and how some aspects of the culture have remained intact. The study indicates that although the process of modernization has affected the barter system in terms of commercialization and its partial disappearance, the main cultural practices and the values of totemism remain stable. The paper concludes with a discussion on the future of Junbeel Mela based on these changes and recommendations on how to strike a balance between tradition and modernity to ensure that Mela remains culturally relevant.