85-565: Ganeshguri is a locality in Guwahati , Assam , is named after lord Ganesh. There was a Heramba kingdom. Another inscription mentions a ruler named Dununtrarāi, Lord of Hedamba donated a tank in Pragjyotishpura in the year 1577 A.D. There is also a Ganesh Temple located in its southern part. Situated in capital complex of Guwahati city, it is a major commercial area within the city. Assam State Secretariat Buildings are located here. Ganeshguri
170-446: A comparatively high quality of life. A 2006 survey ranked Guwahati 17th among all the large and medium-sized Indian cities. The city provides competitive residential and working environments with beautiful landscapes, pleasant climate, modern shopping areas, modern apartments, and bungalows, and considerably developed social infrastructure. A centrally funded four-lane, ambitious East-West Corridor will pass through Guwahati and connect all
255-423: A consequence of the arecoline that is found in areca nuts. The habit also exposes the fetus to various other toxic components linked to cancer . In 2017, world production of areca nut was 1.3 million tonnes , with India providing 54% of the total. As other leading producers, Myanmar , Indonesia, Bangladesh and Taiwan combined contributed 38% of the world total. In India (the largest consumer of areca nut) and
340-617: A form other than whole or carved kernels of nuts can be stopped at the discretion of US Customs officers on the grounds of food, agricultural, or medicinal drug violations. In the United Kingdom the betel nut is legal. Possession of areca nut or betel leaf is banned in the UAE and is a punishable offence. Chewing the mixture of areca nut and betel leaf constitutes an important and popular cultural activity in many South Asian , Southeast Asian , East Asian and Oceanic countries. Why or when
425-482: A large number of consumers. To meet the steady year-round demand, two kinds of betel-nut shops sell betel and nuts, as well as cigarettes and drinks, including beer: Small mom and pop shops , often poorly maintained and with unassuming façades , and shops which will often consist of nothing more than a single, free-standing room, or booth. The latter is usually elevated one meter above the street, and measures less than 3 by 2 m. Large picture windows comprise two or more of
510-461: A living out of selling betel nut, so are resistant to bans in their areas. On Manus Island , young men are exposed to piracy when they use small boats to travel to the northern coast to purchase betel nuts to trade, and several have disappeared. In Australia, the importation, use, and sale of areca nut is banned, but it has been sold illegally in several South Asian supermarkets. In Taiwan, bags of 20 to 40 areca nuts are purchased fresh daily by
595-417: A part of social greeting and socialising. It is a tradition to offer pan-tamul (betel leaves and raw areca nut) to guests immediately upon arrival, and after tea or meals, served in a brass plate with stands called bota . In traditional Assamese societies carrying a pouch of tamul-pan upon one's person during journeys or during farming activities, and sharing of the same, was an essential requirement. Among
680-595: A project embarked on by Ministry of Urban Development , Government of India. Guwahati has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cwa ), falling just short of a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw ). Highest recorded temperature: 40.6 °C (105.1 °F) on 24 April 2014. Lowest recorded temperature: 3.0 °C (37.4 °F) on 30 January 1964. Guwahati has been ranked 36th best “National Clean Air City” under (Category 2 3-10L Population cities) in India. The city has
765-541: A said metropolitan area. Guwahati is the principal seat of the Gauhati High Court . It acts as the High Court of Assam and also of Nagaland , Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh with their outlying benches of Kohima , Aizawl and Itanagar , respectively. Gauhati High Court came in effect from 5 April 1948. It initially had its sittings at Shillong but was shifted to Gauhati from 14 August 1948. Guwahati also houses
850-590: A small quantity of tobacco is called gutka . The easily discarded, small plastic supari or gutka pouches are a ubiquitous pollutant of the South Asian environment. Some of the liquid in the mouth is usually disposed of by spitting, producing bright red spots wherever the expectorate lands. In the Maldives , areca nut chewing is very popular, but spitting is frowned upon and regarded as an unrefined, repulsive way of chewing. Usually, people prefer to chew thin slices of
935-464: A token of friendship every time they met. In Bhutan , the areca nut is called doma . The soft and moist raw areca nut is very potent. When chewed it can cause palpitation and vasoconstriction . This form is eaten in the lower regions of Bhutan and in North Bengal, where the nut is cut into half and put into a local paan leaf with a generous amount of lime. In the rest of Bhutan the raw nut, with
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#17330856731491020-551: Is a cause of oral submucous fibrosis , a condition which may progress to mouth cancer . It has also been linked to throat cancer . When chewed with additional tobacco in its preparation (like in gutka ), there is an even higher risk for cancer, especially for oral and oropharyngeal cancers . With tobacco it also raises the risk of fatal coronary artery disease , fatal stroke and non-fatal ischaemic heart disease Women who chew areca nut formulations, such as paan , during pregnancy significantly increase adverse outcomes for
1105-1042: Is a good remedy against bad breath . Diplomat Edmund Roberts noted that Chinese people would mix areca nut with Uncaria gambir during his visit to China in the 1830s. After chewing a betelnut, the red residue is generally spat out. Accordingly, places have banned chewing this nut to avoid eyesores . The major alkaloid in betel nut is arecoline . There are other compounds, such as arecaidine , guvacine , isoguvacine , and guvacoline . Tannins present in betel nut are mainly proanthocyanidins along with catechins and arecatannin. Two new alkaloids were recently discovered and named acatechu A and acatechu B. Several non-alkaloid compounds including benzenoids, terpenes , carboxylic acids , aldehydes , alcohols, and esters were also identified. Chewing areca nut causes multiple forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease, with or without added tobacco. Betel nut chewing causes an increased risk of head and neck cancers and esophageal cancer . Betel quid affects almost all parts of
1190-515: Is an even higher risk, especially for oral and oropharyngeal cancers . With tobacco it also raises the risk of fatal coronary artery disease , fatal stroke , and adverse reproductive effects including stillbirth , premature birth , low birth weight . Consumption by hundreds of millions of people worldwide—mainly of South/Southeast Asian origins—has been described as a public health emergency. The term areca originated from Dravidian languages , cognates of which are: The terms dates back to
1275-586: Is believed that betel chewing originally developed somewhere within the Philippines shortly after the beginning of the Austronesian expansion (~3000 BCE). From the Philippines, it spread back to Taiwan, as well as onwards to the rest of Austronesia and in neighboring cultures through trade and migration. In Vietnam, the areca nut and the betel leaf are such important symbols of love and marriage that in Vietnamese
1360-530: Is not to be confused with betel ( Piper betle ) leaves that are often used to wrap it. The practice of betel nut chewing , often together with other herbs as a stimulant drug , dates back thousands of years, and continues to the present day in many countries. Betel nut chewing is addictive due to the presence of the stimulant arecoline , and causes adverse health effects, mainly oral and esophageal cancers , and cardiovascular disease. When chewed with additional tobacco in its preparation (like in gutka ), there
1445-429: Is one of the major commercial areas of Guwahati city. Market consists mainly of various segments such as garments, crockeries, home decor, music stores, medical stores, sweet stores, groceries, automobile showroom etc. Various restaurants have been opened up in the area serving various cuisines. Fast food chains like Pizza Hut , KFC , McDonald's have opened up. Ethnic restaurants like Janming and Gam's Delicacy have made
1530-485: Is preferably consumed in its fermented form, which is supposed to make the fruit harder and sweeter. The raw nut may also be eaten during certain seasons when the fermented variety becomes unavailable, although it has more of ritual importance. Standard sized pieces of the nut and leaf are usually consumed in combination with lime and a bit of tobacco. In Assam, betel nut and leaf has indispensable cultural value; offering betel leaf and nut, (together known as gua ) constitutes
1615-438: Is prevalent among taxi, bus and truck drivers, who rely on the stimulating effect of betel nut to cope with long work hours. For these reasons, oral cancer has been identified as a leading cause of death in professions with high betel nut-chewing rates. In Hainan and Hunan Province , China, where Xiangtan is a center of use and processing, a wide range of old and young people consume areca nut daily. Most, though, consume
1700-738: Is situated 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Guwahati. The Guwahati Municipal Corporation , the city's local government, administers an area of 216 square kilometres (83 sq mi),. At the same time, the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) is the planning and development body of Greater Guwahati Metropolitan Area. Guwahati is the largest city in Northeast India . The Guwahati region hosts diverse wildlife including rare animals such as Asian elephants, pythons, tigers, rhinoceros, gaurs , primate species, and endangered birds. Guwahati derives its name from
1785-534: Is the central educational hub of Northeast India. Among the esteemed institutions is the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT), an autonomous institute dedicated in the field of technical studies in India. Cotton University , erstwhile Cotton College is yet another century-old institution in the fields of Science and Arts. Guwahati has numerous educational institutes and colleges such as: There are various private schools too like: Pandu , located on
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#17330856731491870-565: Is the headquarters of Assam Police . The city is under the Police Commissionerate of Guwahati headed by the Commissioner of Police, Guwahati. It is divided into three districts: East Police District, Central Police District, and West Police District, each headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police. Each police district consists of officers, not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, functioning as executive magistrates within
1955-647: Is the local body responsible for governing, developing and managing the city. It is divided into 60 municipal wards. Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) is an agency responsible for planning and development of the greater Guwahati Metropolitan Area and for revising the Guwahati Master Plan and Building Bylaws to cover an area of 3,214 square kilometres (1,241 sq mi) by 2025. Guwahati consists of four assembly constituencies: Jalukbari, Dispur, Gauhati East and Gauhati West, all of which are part of Gauhati (Lok Sabha constituency) . Guwahati
2040-678: Is the seat of the Government of Assam . Its airport is the 12th busiest in India , the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport . A major riverine port city along with hills, and one of the fastest growing cities in India , Guwahati is situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra . The city is known as the "gateway to North East India". The ancient cities of Pragjyotishpura and Durjaya ( North Guwahati ) were
2125-420: The 16th century when Dutch and Portuguese sailors took the nut from India to Europe. The areca nut is not a true nut , but rather the seed of a fruit categorized as a berry . It is commercially available in dried, cured, and fresh forms. When the husk of the fresh fruit is green, the nut inside is soft enough to be cut with a typical knife. In the ripe fruit, the husk becomes yellow or orange, and as it dries,
2210-558: The Benguet province. These restrictions were made under the idea that momma or moma (betel nut) chewing and spitting are improper during public transportation drivers' work hours and are considered stains to the city roads and sidewalks. Despite these restrictions, betel nut thrives across the Cordilleran market. An example of its commerciality can be observed in Ifugao , one of the provinces of
2295-494: The Saraighat Bridge and the other continuing west towards LGB International Airport via Gauhati University (Jalukbari). There are also many river ports/jetties along this corridor. The third major corridor extends towards the east (around 15 km [9.3 mi] from the city-center) linking Noonmati ( Guwahati Refinery ) and Narengi, and has facilitated residential growth along with it. Highway NH-37, which encircles
2380-483: The areca palm ( Areca catechu ). The palm is originally native to the Philippines , but was carried widely through the tropics by the Austronesian migrations and trade since at least 1500 BCE due to its use in betel nut chewing . It is widespread in cultivation and is considered naturalized in much of the tropical Pacific ( Melanesia and Micronesia ), South Asia , Southeast Asia , and parts of east Africa. It
2465-409: The husori players are offered areca nuts and betel leaves by each household while their blessings are solicited. Spanish mariner Álvaro de Mendaña reported observing Solomon Islanders chewing the nut and the leaf with caustic lime, and the manner in which the habit stained their mouths red. He noted the friendly and genial chief Malope, on Santa Isabel Island , would offer him the combination as
2550-565: The Assamese word "Guwa" (Assamese: গুৱা ) derived from the Sanskrit word Guvaka, meaning areca nut and its plant and "Hati" (Assamese: হাটী ) meaning rows, the rows of areca nut trees. The 10th-12th century Kalika Purana mention that Kamrup was inhabited by strong, cruel Kirata people. As per the legends constructed in the Yogini Tantra , the tank Dighalipukhuri located in the heart of
2635-404: The Assamese, the areca nut also has a variety of uses during religious and marriage ceremonies, where it has the role of a fertility symbol. No religious ritual is complete without the offering of tamul-pan to the gods and spirits as well as to the assembled guests A tradition from Upper Assam is to invite guests to wedding receptions by offering a few areca nuts with betel leaves. During Bihu ,
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2720-471: The Brahmaputra, the city did not experience floods. However, human interference has disrupted the natural topography, leading to the current situation where "just half an hour of rain" can cause flooding in the city. Encroachment and concretization, which reduce open areas for natural water absorption, are the primary causes of floods according to Bhagawati. Guwahati was ranked the second most polluted city in
2805-544: The Court of the District and Sessions Judge, Kamrup established in 1920. It is a lower court of the district judiciary having territorial jurisdiction over the greater Guwahati area only. In recent years, Guwahati has experienced rapid population growth due to migration for education and employment opportunities. This population increase has led to undesirable expansion of the city and has resulted in various collateral problems, such as
2890-630: The Gauhati High Court, taking office on 5 April 1948. The Saraighat Bridge , notable for its role in connecting Northeast India with the rest of the country, was constructed between 1959 and 1962 by the Hindustan Construction Company at a cost of approximately ₹ 106 million at the time. It was completed in September 1962, and the first engine crossed it on 23 September 1962. In 1972, due to separation of Meghalaya from Assam ,
2975-816: The Philippine Cordilleras, where betel nuts are high-demand products sourced from the province's different cities and municipalities. In Bahasa Indonesia , the betel nut is known as makan pinang , while in the Papua Province of Indonesia, it is known simply as pinang . In Papua New Guinea (PNG), betel nuts are referred to in Tok Pisin as buai , and grow abundantly on the northern coast, in Wewak and Madang . A controversial ban on selling and chewing betel nut in public places in Port Moresby , introduced in 2014 by
3060-521: The area a popular place for outings. Several important establishments such as Guwahati Tea Auction Centre , Ambarish Hotel etc. are located here. Guwahati Guwahati ( Assamese: [ɡua.ɦa.ti] ) is the largest city of the Indian state of Assam , and also the largest metropolis in northeastern India. Dispur , the capital of Assam, is in the circuit city region located within Guwahati and
3145-516: The areca nut and the betel leaf were first combined into one psychoactive drug is not known. Archaeological evidence from Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines suggests they have been used in tandem for at least 4,000 years. The oldest unequivocal evidence of betel chewing is from the Philippines, specifically that of several individuals found in a burial pit in the Duyong Cave site of Palawan island dated to around 2680±250 BCE . The dentition of
3230-457: The arrival of Guru Rinpoche in the eighth century, he stopped the people from eating flesh and drinking blood and created a substitute which is betel leaf, lime and areca nut. Today, chewing doma has become a custom. Doma is served after meals, during rituals and ceremonies. It is offered to friends and is chewed at work places by all sections of society and has become an essential part of Bhutanese life and culture." The addition of tobacco leaf to
3315-468: The baby. Betel quid chewing can cause stillbirth , premature birth , low birth weight . The harm caused by consumption of areca nuts worldwide was classified in 2017 as a "neglected global public health emergency". Using tobacco or areca nuts during pregnancy significantly increases adverse outcomes for the baby. The habit is associated with higher incidences of preterm birth and low birth weight and height. Biologically, these effects may be
3400-686: The banks of the Brahmaputra at the western part of the city, is an ancient urban area that acted as the chief military base for the Ahoms against external invasions. Due to extensive fortification ('Gorh') surrounding Pandu, it acts as a natural river harbor and is formally called Gar-Pandu. Pandu port falls under Dhubri-Sadiya National Waterway-2 and is an important terminal and transit point for goods and cargo as well as passenger and tourist vessels. Construction of both low-level and high-level jetty of fixed terminal, capable of handling container vessels, has been completed and has further enhanced revenue generation for
3485-537: The buyers find it difficult to buy these items. Vegetables are transported into Assam from West Bengal , Bihar , Uttar Pradesh , Delhi , Maharashtra and Meghalaya and the truckers en route have to pay considerable amount of money as tax at various check posts. It is one of the causes of rise in prices of vegetables in the markets of Guwahati. The prices of locally available vegetables and fruits undergo large markup because of transportation expenses grounds, besides intra-State check posts taxes. In addition to these,
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3570-519: The capital of Assam was moved to Dispur , a neighbourhood in Guwahati from the erstwhile capital of Shillong. The Brahmaputra river flows to the north of the metropolis. The city is bordered on the south by the foothills of the Shillong plateau and to the east by the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary. The Bharalu River , a tributary of the Brahmaputra, flows right through the heart of the city. To
3655-579: The capital of Assam, lies in Guwahati. The passing of the North Eastern (Reorganization Areas) Act in 1971 by the Indian Parliament accorded Meghalaya the status of a full-fledged state. After the creation of Meghalaya as a separate state, Shillong continued to be the joint capital of both Assam and Meghalaya. However, in 1972, the Government of Assam decided to shift the capital to Dispur. Accordingly,
3740-473: The capitals of the ancient state of Kamarupa . Many ancient Hindu temples like the Kamakhya Temple , Ugratara Temple , Basistha Temple , Doul Govinda Temple , Umananda Temple , Navagraha Temple , Sukreswar Temple , Rudreswar Temple , Manikarneswar Devalaya , Aswaklanta Temple, Dirgheshwari Temple , Lankeshwar Temple , Bhubaneswari Temple, Shree Ganesh Mandir, Shree Panchayatana Temple, Noonmati, and
3825-600: The chewing mixture is a relatively recent innovation, as tobacco was not introduced from the Americas until the colonial era. Reasons for starting to consume areca nuts appears to involve complex psychosocial factors. Places such as Guwahati in India, Penang in Malaysia , Ko Mak (เกาะหมาก) in Thailand , Fua Mulaku in Maldives and Binlang Islet in Taiwan have been named after
3910-474: The chewing of the nut and the leaf. The areca nut represented the male principle, and the betel leaf the female principle. Considered an auspicious ingredient in Hinduism and some schools of Buddhism , the areca nut is still used along with betel leaf in religious ceremonies, and also while honoring individuals in much of southern Asia. In Assam , as well as most of its neighbouring Northeastern states, Areca Nut
3995-589: The child population (0-14) in Guwahati was 9.40% in 2011. The average literacy rate was stated to be 91.47% with male literacy at 94.24% and female literacy at 88.50%. The sex ratio was recorded to be 933 females per 1000 males and child sex ratio to be 940 girls per 1000 boys. Languages spoken in Guwahati (2011) According to the 2011 census, there were around 962,334 people living in Guwahati city, of which around 57.80% spoke Assamese , 20.40% Bengali , 12.29% Hindi , 1.92% Nepali , 1.69% Boro , 0.91% Manipuri and 0.90% Bhojpuri as their first language. Guwahati
4080-690: The city was dug by King Bhagadatta of Kamrup on the occasion of the wedding of his daughter Bhanumati with Duryodhan . Located within Guwahati is the Shakti temple of Goddess Kamakhya in Nilachal hill (an important seat of Tantric and Vajrayana Buddhism ), the ancient and unique astrological temple Navagraha in Chitrachal Hill, and archaeological remains in Basistha and other archaeological locations of mythological importance. The Ambari excavations trace
4165-564: The city's southern parts and links the southern corridor in Noumile to the western corridor in Jalukbari is currently supporting rapid development. Similarly, the VIP Road linking Zoo Road with the eastern corridor and recently completed Hengerabari-Narengi Road are also supporting massive residential development to the east. Guwahati is one among 98 Indian cities proposed to become Smart Cities under
4250-476: The city. The manufacturing sector in Guwahati contributes a substantial share to the economy of the city. Petroleum manufacturing is an important economic activity in the city. The Guwahati Refinery is the most important manufacturing industry in the city. Located at Noonmati, the refinery was set up by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited as the first public sector refinery of India as well as
4335-549: The combination of areca nut and the betel leaf is ideal to the point they are practically inseparable, like an idealized married couple. Formerly, in both India and Sri Lanka, it was a custom of the royalty to chew areca nut with betel leaf. Kings had special attendants whose duty it was to carry a box with all the necessary ingredients for a good chewing session. There was also a custom for lovers to chew areca nut and betel leaf together, because of its breath-freshening and relaxant properties. A sexual symbolism thus became attached to
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#17330856731494420-592: The country's total tea production. So high is the production of tea in Assam that it is the biggest industry in the state. The headquarters of the Assam Branch Indian Tea Association (ABITA) is located at Guwahati. The Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC), located adjacent to the capital complex at Dispur, is the world's largest CTC tea auction center and the second largest in terms of total tea auctioned. The inaugural sale took place on 25 September 1970 and
4505-520: The dried variety of the nut by itself, without the betel leaves. Some people also consume the areca nut in its raw, fresh form with or without the betel leaves. Betel nuts are sold mostly by old women merchants, but the dried version can be found in shops that sell tea, alcohol, and cigarettes. In the United States, areca nut is not a controlled or specially taxed substance and may be found in some Asian grocery stores. However, importation of areca nut in
4590-404: The dry nut, which is sometimes roasted. Kili , a mixture of areca nut, betel, cloves, cardamom and sugar is sold in small home-made paper pouches. Old people who have lost their teeth keep "chewing" by pounding the mixture of areca nut and betel with a small mortar and pestle. In Thailand, the consumption of areca nut has declined gradually in the last decades. The younger generation rarely chews
4675-470: The first lot of tea was auctioned at the price of ₹ 42.50 which, during those days, was a significant achievement. In the month of August 2019, a kilogram of Maijan Orthodox Golden tea sold for a record-setting price of ₹ 70,501 at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre . Areca nut The areca nut ( / ˈ ær ɪ k ə / or / ə ˈ r iː k ə / ) or betel nut is the fruit of
4760-878: The first sitting of the Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly was held at Dispur on 16 March 1973. Dispur houses the Secretariat of Assam Government, the Assam Assembly House, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Regional Office, the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) House and the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC). Guwahati Municipal Corporation
4845-463: The fruit inside hardens to a wood-like consistency. At that stage, the areca nut can only be sliced using a special scissors -like cutter. Usually for chewing, a few slices of the nut are wrapped in a betel leaf along with calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) and may include clove , cardamom , catechu resin ( kattha ), or other spices for extra flavouring. Betel leaf has a fresh, peppery taste, but it can also be bitter to varying degrees depending on
4930-505: The governor, was lifted in 2017. Because the popular nut continued to be smuggled in, prices rose dramatically. Police enforced the ban rigorously, and in 2015 two betel nut sellers died in Hanuabada after police reservists fired on a crowd. The governor of Port Moresby introduced another ban on the nut, restricted to an area in the business district of the city in July 2023. However many people make
5015-623: The growth of a southern city sub-center at Ganeshguri, along with other residential areas to the south developed during the past few decades. The corridor extending towards the west (around 30 km [19 mi] from the city center) contains a rail-road linking not only Guwahati but also other parts of the northeastern region east of Guwahati to western Assam and the rest of India. The corridor links residential and historically important areas such as Nilachal Hill (Kamakhya), Pandu, and Maligaon (headquarters of Northeast Frontier Railways) before it separates into two – one towards North Guwahati via
5100-560: The headquarters of the Borphukan , Ahom governor of Lower Assam till 1824.The Borphukan's residence was in the present Fancy Bazaar area and his council-hall, called Dopdar , was about 300 yards (270 m) to the west of the Bharalu stream.The Majindar Baruah, the personal secretary of the Borphukan, had his residence in the present-day deputy commissioner's residence. During Ahom period Guwahati
5185-522: The headquarters were removed to Shillong in the Khasi hills . The Gauhati High Court (formerly known as the High Court of Assam) was promulgated on 1 March 1948 by the then Governor General of India, Lord Mountbatten , in accordance with the Government of India Act 1935 . It became effective on 5 April 1948 and was initially established for the Province of Assam. R.F. Lodge was the inaugural Chief Justice of
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#17330856731495270-425: The human body, including the brain, heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract and reproductive organs. It can cause myocardial infarction , cardiac arrhythmias , liver damage , asthma , type II diabetes , hyperlipidemia , metabolic syndrome , hypothyroidism , prostate hyperplasia and infertility . Habitual chewing of areca nuts increases the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma . Chewing areca nuts
5355-466: The husk on, is fermented such that the husk rots and is easy to extract. The fermented doma has a putrid odour, which can be smelled from miles. Traditionally, this fragrant nut is cut in half and placed on top of a cone made of local betel leaf, which has a dash of lime put into it. "Myth has it that the inhabitants of Bhutan traditionally known as Monyul, the land of Monpas where Buddhism did not reach lived on raw flesh, drank blood, and chewed bones. After
5440-527: The like, are situated in the city, giving it the title of "The City of Temples". Guwahati lies between the banks of the Brahmaputra River and the foothills of the Shillong plateau, with LGB International Airport to the west and the town of Narengi to the east. The North Guwahati area, to the northern bank of the Brahmaputra, is being gradually incorporated into the city limits. The noted Madan Kamdev
5525-513: The most important is the corridor formed along the Guwahati-Shillong (GS) Road towards the south (almost 15 km [9.3 mi] from the city-center). The GS Road corridor is an important commercial area with retail, wholesale and commercial offices developed along the main road; it is also a densely built residential area in the inner parts. The capital complex of Assam at Dispur is situated in this corridor. This corridor has facilitated
5610-438: The near future is expected to worsen to the point where residents of certain areas may be forced to relocate. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the alteration of drainage channels and wetlands due to rapid urbanization has exacerbated the problem of flooding. Professor Abani Kumar Bhagawati of Gauhati University stated that since before there were sufficient wetlands to absorb rainwater and channels to carry excess water to
5695-598: The period of the city of Guwahati between the 2nd century BCE and the 1st century CE, in the Shunga - Kushana period of Indian history . Descriptions by Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) reveal that during the reign of the Varman king Bhaskaravarman (7th century CE), the city stretched for about 30 li (15 km or 9.3 mi). Archaeological evidence by excavations in Ambari, and excavated brick walls and houses discovered during construction of
5780-467: The phrase "matters of betel and areca" ( chuyện trầu cau ) is synonymous with marriage. The tradition of chewing areca nuts starts the talk between the groom's parents and the bride's parents about the young couple's marriage. Therefore, the leaves and juices are used ceremonially in Vietnamese weddings. The folk tale explaining the origin of this Vietnamese tradition is a good illustration of the belief that
5865-439: The preparation of Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicines . Powdered areca nut is used as a constituent in some dentifrices . Other traditional uses include the removal of tapeworms and other intestinal parasites by swallowing a few teaspoons of powdered areca nut, drunk as a decoction , or by taking tablets containing the extracted alkaloids. According to traditional Ayurvedic medicine, chewing areca nut and betel leaf
5950-500: The present Cotton College 's auditorium suggest the city was of economic and strategic importance until the 9th–11th century CE. Koch King Parikshit had his capital at Pragjyotishpur near the Aswatirtha during the conflicts with Mughals . It came under Mughal occupation between (1633–59, 1662–69, 1679–81), their vestige was completely removed after the Battle of Itakhuli . Guwahati was
6035-412: The refinery include Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Kerosene Oil, Turbine Fuel (aviation use), Motor Spirit, High-Speed Motor Diesel, Light Diesel Oil, and Raw Petroleum Coke. There is also an LPG bottling plant in the city. Tea manufacturing and processing is another important activity of Guwahati. Assam is one of the highest tea-producing areas in the world, contributing 80% of India's export and 55% of
6120-467: The refinery of Indian Oil since 1962. It was built with an initial crude processing capacity of 0.75 million tonnes per year at the time of its commission which was gradually increased to 1.0 million tonnes per year. It produces various products and supplies them to the other northeast states and also beyond to Siliguri through the Guwahati-Siliguri pipeline. The various products produced by
6205-474: The rest of the Indian subcontinent , the preparation of nut with or without betel leaf is commonly referred to as paan . It is available practically everywhere and is sold in ready-to-chew pouches called pan masala or supari , which is the dried form of the areca nut, as a mixture of many flavours whose primary base is dried areca nut crushed into small pieces. Poor people, who may eat only every other day, use it to stave off hunger pains . Pan masala with
6290-406: The rise in the number of slums. It is projected that the population of Guwahati will reach 1.5 million by 2035, up from an estimated 1.1 million in 2020. One of the economic problems that the citizens of Guwahati have to put up with is the hike in prices of many essentials, chiefly vegetables, poultry, and fish. The prices of these commodities keep escalating at an inordinate rate because of which
6375-437: The side of the road and wait for the girls to bring their betel and areca nut to their vehicles. The habit of chewing betel nut is often associated with blue-collar labor industries such as long-haul transportation, construction, or fishing. Workers in these labor-intensive industries use betel nut for its stimulating effect, but it also becomes a tool for socializing with coworkers. For example, studies have shown chewing betel nut
6460-577: The skeletons is stained, typical of betel chewers. The grave also includes Anadara shells used as containers of lime, one of which still contained lime. Burial sites in Bohol dated to the first millennium CE also show the distinctive reddish stains characteristic of betel chewing. Based on linguistic evidence of how the reconstructed Proto-Austronesian term *buaq originally meaning "fruit" came to refer to "areca nut" in Proto-Malayo-Polynesian , it
6545-410: The south, east, and west. In the past few decades, southern Guwahati areas such as Ganeshguri, Beltola, Hatigaon, Six Mile, and Panjabari began forming a southern sub-center surrounding the capital complex at Dispur. The core area consists of the old city with Pan Bazaar , Paltan Bazaar , Fancy Bazaar and Uzan Bazaar , with each area facilitating unique urban activities. Among the city corridors,
6630-464: The south-west of the city lies Dipor Bil , a permanent freshwater lake with no prominent inflows apart from monsoon run-off from the hills to the south of the lake. The lake drains into the Brahmaputra, 5 km (3.1 mi) to the north, and acts as a natural stormwater reservoir for the city. There are also multiple hills within the city limits. Guwahati's 'urban form' radiates from a central core with growth corridors radiating and extending towards
6715-494: The state capitals of Northeast India . Completion of the project will boost the vital upliftment of the whole region. The city still needs attention to improve its infrastructure. Funding from the Asian Development Bank is providing assistance to improve Guwahati's transportation infrastructure along with a substantial amount from Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for its development. Dispur,
6800-611: The substance, especially in the cities. Most of the present-day consumption is confined to older generations, mostly people above 50. Even so, small trays of betel leaves and sliced tender areca nut are sold in markets and used as offerings in Buddhist shrines. In the northern Philippines, particularly the Cordillera Administrative Region , betel nut chewing remains prominent to the point that restrictions and fines have been established in urban areas such as Baguio City in
6885-685: The variety. Areca nuts are chewed for their effects as a mild stimulant, causing a warming sensation in the body and slightly heightened alertness, although the effects vary from person to person. The first nut cultivation in the world was done in Kyasanuru Seeme area of Shimoga district in Karnataka state of India. Even today the cultivators plant the same variety here. Kyasanuru variety gives high yield. Grows wildly in all regions. In parts of India, Sri Lanka , and southern China, areca nuts are not only chewed along with betel leaf, but are also used in
6970-399: The walls, allowing those who pass by a complete view of the interior. The interior is often painted brightly. Within such a shop, a sexily dressed young woman, a " betel nut beauty ", can be seen preparing betel and areca nuts. Shops are often identified by colorful (commonly green) LED lamps or neon lights that frame the windows or that are arranged radially above a store. Customers stop on
7055-626: The wholesale dealers, as well as the retail sellers, augment the prices of the commodities according to their own desires. The price of poultry, mainly chicken, that reaches the city markets from places like Chaygaon and Barpeta have been soaring rapidly because of similar factors. There has been steep rise in the price of fish as well, the prominent varieties of which being Rohu ("Rou"), Catla ("Bahu"), Walking catfish ("Magur") and Monopterus ("Kuchia") among many others. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated inflation, causing food prices to rise. According to experts, urban flooding in Guwahati in
7140-556: The world in a 2023 report published by IQAir, behind Begusarai and ahead of Delhi , reflecting India's status as the country with the third highest level of pollution after Bangladesh and Pakistan. Guwahati is one of the fastest-growing cities in India. Guwahati has a population of 962,334 as per the 2011 census. Population of Guwahati in 2021 is estimated to be 11 lakhs (approx). It is estimated that Guwahati metro will house 2.8 million residents by 2025. Below Graph shows Population of Guwahati (1950-2040): - The percentage of
7225-561: Was fortified strongly and connected with the country with a number of roads. The Dighalipukhuri was used as a boatyard during this period. During the time of splendor, since the reign of Gadadhar Singha ; the Ahom rulers paid their attention to building several temples in various religious sites at Guwahati. On the cession of Assam to the British in 1826 it was made the seat of the British administration of Assam, and so continued till 1874, when
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