The Tiwa, known historically as the Lalung, are one of the largest indigenous Scheduled Tribe communities of Assam, predominantly living in the Brahmaputra valley plains of central Assam - Morigaon, Nagaon, Hojai, Kamrup (Metro) and Dhemaji districts - with a smaller hill Tiwa population in the Amsoi and Chintampara areas. Linguistically and culturally close to the Bodo-Garo group, the Tiwa trace their descent from the Brahmaputra valley communities and have preserved vibrant traditions: the Jonbeel Mela at Dayang Belguri near Morigaon, a centuries-old festival-cum-barter market where hill and plains communities exchange goods, the Panchthuni (Thuni) religious gathering of the plains Tiwa villages and the celebrated Sagra Misawa dance festival of the hill Tiwa. The community traditionally organised itself around the historic Kontola village institution, remnants of which survive till today.