Bamboo is woven into the warp and weft of Assamese life. Several species of bamboo, such as Muli, Dalu, Khang and Pecha grow in the lush hills of the state and skilled craftspeople use it to make furniture, baskets, jewellery and even musical instruments.

The intricate and decorative jaapi (a bamboo headgear) proudly showcases the Assamese identity. Craftspeople make the conical hat using strips of bamboo and palm leaves, fashioned around a mould. The jaapi is worn both during farming activities to protect the farmers from the sun and rain, and more decorative versions of it are worn during harvest festivals. The villages of Nalbari District in Assam are especially famous for their jaapis.

The jaapi has found its way into the first ever Assamese movie, Joymoti in 1935 made by famous filmmaker and cultural icon, Jyoti Prasad Agarwala. Even now, visiting dignitaries to the state are presented with the jaapi as a mark of Assamese honour.