The Dam is a conventional bamboo mat utilized by the Rabha tribe living in the forested areas of Assam and northern West Bengal. Deeply connected to nature and with weaving skills in bamboo, the Rabhas create a durable and all-purpose mat with tightly woven flat bamboo ribbons creating it rectangular. The Dam is distinctive for its strengthened edges—each of the four sides is bound with a sturdy strip of bamboo tightly secured with thin bamboo lashes. This strengthening gives the mat added sturdiness and durability while also keeping the mat flat and even through time, preventing curling up of the edges.
In Rabha households, the Dam serves various purposes-as a sitting place, for sleeping, drying grain, or even for craftworking or preparing food. It is lightweight yet strong for easy portability, while natural material ensures comfort and breathability-an important consideration in the hot and humid weather of northeastern India.The making of the Dam is an occasion for social gathering among both men and women, passed on from the older to younger generations. The diligence of the Rabhas in every detail and their knowledge of bamboo's pliability and strength shine through in the very-making of the Dam, their symbol of a self-sufficient people conscious about conservation.