Artist and sculptors, masons and architects, and others practicing minor crafts such as weavers, spinners, potters, goldsmiths, artisanns of ivory, wood, bamboo, cane and hide flourished in Assam from ancient times. Weaving is the traditional craft of the Assamese, and the women of almost every household take pride in their possession of a handloom. They use their handloom to produce silk and (or) cotton clothes of exquisite designs. The Eri, Muga and Pat are the important silk products of Assam. The scientific name given to the worms which produce the muga silk is Antehra Assam---due to the fact that these worms cannot survive in any other climates other than the climate of the Northeast. Gandhiji complimented the Assamese weavers as artists who could weave dreams in their loomes.

The cultural life of Assam is interwoven with the acitivies of two important cultural and religious institutions: the satras (the seat of a religious head, the satradhikar) and the naamghar (the house of names or the prayer hall). The satras hve been in existence for more than 400 years.

Most of the native population of Assam is Vaishnavite Hindu. Villagers generally associate on the basis of membership of a local center of devotional worship called "nam ghar" or "the house of names" (of God), whose members describe them as "one people" or "raij". Villages are usually made up of families from a number of distinct castes. The caste system, although it exists, is not as prominent as in other parts of India.

Among the Assamese, a form of Hinduism exists with two contrasting emphases, that of caste and sect. In caste, one finds polytheism, hierarchy, membership by birth (inherited status), collective ideas of humanity (caste groups), mediation of ritual specialists, rites conducted in Sanskrit through priests, complexity and extravagance of ritual, multiplicity of image, and salvation through knowledge or works.

In sects, one finds monotheism, egalitarianism among believers, membership by invitation (acquired status), individual ideas of humanity (individual initiates), direct access to spiritual revelation, worship conducted in the verncular by the congegration, simplicity of worship, incarnation of God in the written word, and salvation through faith and mystical union.

The most important social and cultural celebrations are the three Bihu festivals observed with great enthusiasm irrespective of caste, creed and religious affinity. The Bohag Bihu, celebrated in mid-April, is the most important one. It is also known as Rangaali Bihu ("rang" means merry-making and fun). It is observed by dancing and singing in open spaces as well as in the houses. The second important Bihu, Magh Bihu, is a harvest festival celebrated in mid-January. It is celebrated with community feasts and bonfires. It is also known as the Bhogaali Bihu ("bhog" means enjoyment and feasting). The third Bihu festival is observed in mid-October. It is also known as the Kangaali Bihu ("kangaali" means poor) because by this time of the year which is before the harvest is brought home, the stock of foodgrains is low in a common man‘s house.

The Assamese also observe pan-Indian religious festivals such as Durga Puja, Dol-jatra or Fakuwa, Janmastami, and the Eids.

Another important aspect of the cultural life of the peopel of Assam, particularly the women, is weaving of fine silk and cotton cloths of various floral and other decorative designs.