GUWAHATI: A two-day international seminar in Sonapur, Assam, delved into the diversity of burial practices and funerary rituals in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The event, titled “Recent Archaeological Pursuits in Burial Traditions of South Asia and Southeast Asia,” was organized by the Directorate of Archaeology, Assam, under the aegis of the Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture Department.
The seminar, which concluded on Sunday, began with the lighting of lanterns, followed by a welcome speech from Ranjan Sharma, Commissioner and Secretary of the State Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture Department.
Researchers and speakers analyzed the impact of external influences on burial practices in the region. They also explored archaeology’s role in understanding the evolution of these traditions, identified gaps in current research, and proposed future directions for studying burial practices in South and Southeast Asia.
Nandita Garlosa, Minister of the Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture Department, attended the seminar. Y.S. Rawat, Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, addressed the gathering as the chief guest, emphasizing the significance of burial traditions in the cultural and social fabric of South Asia and Southeast Asia.
“By exploring recent pursuits in this field, we can gain a deeper understanding of the diversity and complexity of burial practices in South Asia and Southeast Asia,” Rawat stated.
Prof. J.N. Phukan, a Padmashree awardee, delivered the keynote address. Distinguished officials and invitees, including Janhwij Sharma, Additional Director General (Conservation, World Heritage, NCF) of the Archaeological Survey of India; Dr. Anura Manatunga, Professor at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka; and Dr. S.K. Manjul, Additional Director General (Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology and Iconic Sites), Archaeological Survey of India, also attended.
Dr. K.C. Nauriyal, a cultural expert associated with the Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture Department of the Assam government, along with delegates and scholars from Thailand, Sri Lanka, and various parts of India, participated in the seminar. Additionally, an online session featured presentations from scholars in Afghanistan and the Czech Republic.
The seminar facilitated discussions among international scholars, enhancing the understanding of diverse burial traditions worldwide and their correlation with the moidams—the mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty in Charaideo district, Upper Assam.
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