Title: CULTURAL INTEGRATION IN MUSLIM COMMUNITIES: The Cases of Malabar and Assam

Author (s):: Panakkal A.; Baharul Islam K.M.

Journal: South Asian Islam: A Spectrum of Integration and Indigenization

Month and Year: NA 2023

Abstract: This chapter on cultural integration in Indian Muslim communities covers two distinct regions of southwest and northeast India with plentiful examples of syncretic traditions from the Muslim cultures of both places. Muslims lived amongst various other communities and integrated the customs, traditions, art, and cultures of those communities into their Islamic lifestyle without neglecting the fundamental beliefs of Islam. Islamic folk poetry like Pattu and performing arts such as Oppana and Kolkkali in the southwest celebrated the expressive elegance of cultural integration. In the northeast special songs of Islamic teaching (Zikr) and historical events like Karbala (Zari) became very popular and were inspired by Sankardeva and Mahadeva. The integration of cultural activities was explicitly followed by the incorporation of famous festivals like Gasshi and Bihu and Muslim festivals were indigenized with these popular traditions. Maintaining the Muslim religious rituals, unrestricted cultural integration took place and became deeply rooted within the Muslim communities in these regions. These integrated and vernacularized cultural traditions exemplify the Muslim cultural diversity of the subcontinent. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Nasr M Arif and Abbas Panakkal; individual chapters, the contributors.

Document Type: Book chapter

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003439530-9