The historic Jonbeel Mela is held in the first week of Magha. It is said that the Jonbeel Mela has been held since the rule of the Gova king. There is a fair of union of the people living in the hills and bhayyam. The people living in the hills also come down to the self-produced potatoes, cucumbers, ginger, chilli, pepper, komora, rangalao etc. People from Karbi, Garo, Khasi, Dimasa etc. from Garo Hills come to The Jonbeel Mela every year.
The hill people who come to the Jonbeel mela exchange or sell their belongings and collect the chira-pitha, ja-jalpan, dried fish etc. prepared by the people of Bhaiyyam through the purchase or exchange method. The earlier exchange system which was prevalent in the society can be seen in the Jonbeel Fair. For example, the people of Bhaiyyam give dry fish to the people of Bhaiyyam.
Apart from this, one can buy various items at the cost of money as per the will. It is said that for a day the currency becomes defunct in the jone Bill mela. In fact, those who come to the fair can buy other items in exchange for that product without paying money. Now however this practice remains only as a tradition.
The historic Jonbeel Fair, which bears the signature of the harmony of the Tiwa people of central Assam, is being held on the banks of the Jonbeel from today. The Jonbeel Fair has started in the 15th century and has continued till now with the time and rules set by the Gova King in the midst of a change in the modern social system.
Jonbeel Mela exchanges goods instead of traditional monetary system The world’s youngest Gova king Deepsingh Deoraja will have a regular feast at the fair today with the councilors.
The exchange system and community fishing will begin on January 22 with a wealth of products produced by the maternal uncles of Pahar-Bhaiyyam. The hill tribes of Bhaiyyam Pabi Karbi Anglong and Meghalaya on January 21 to bring this exchange system to life. People coming to Bhaiyyam under the leadership of Lor and Dalai will bring along various products and food items.
It is in this fair that food items will be exchanged along with the address of mama and mummy. Thousands of people from different parts of the state came to the Jonbeel Fair to witness this exchange system. In the exchange system, the mami-mummy of the hills brings ginger, turmeric, potatoes, cucumbers and other spice products. Apart from this, the people of Bhaiyyam prepare chira-ladoo-pitha for the hill people.