Majuli in Assam, the largest riverine island in the world, located in the Brahmaputra River, and also the first island that became a district in India. Once covering an area of 880 sq km, it has now shrunk to just 325 sq km. The island is formed by the Brahmaputra in South, and the Kherkutia Xuti. It’s natural beauty apart, the island is also the spiritual abode of Assam’s Vaishnavite culture.
Originally called as Ratnapur, it was the capital of the powerful Chutia kingdom, and a narrow piece of land surrounded by the Brahmaputra and Burhiding. It gets it’s name from the fact that it lies in the middle of two rivers flowing parallel to each other. A massive flood in 1750, changed the course of Brahmaputra southwards into the Burhiding’s lower channel, forming the island.
During the 16th century, Srimant Sankaradeva, a renowned preacher, who founded the neo-Vaishnavite movement, established a series of monastries and hermitages known as satra here, making the island the cultural capital of Assam.
The island is populated primarily by the Misings, Deoris and Sonowal Kacharis tribes, while there is a fairly large population of Kochs, Ahoms, Kalitas too. There are around 144 villages, and a ferry service to Jorhat, the nearest city, that operates six times a day.
The former CM of Assam and now Union Minister for Ports and Shipping, Sarbananda Sonowal was incidentally an MLA from Majuli constituency between 2016-21.
Satras
The biggest attraction of Majuli are the Vaishnavite Satras, most of them set up by Srimanta Sankaradeva when he took refuge here. However only 22 satras are there now, of the original 65 most of which have been lost to floods and erosion. Among the prominent ones are
Dakhinpat Satra
The most famous of all the Satras, established by Satradhikar Sri Vanamalidev in 1584, known for it’s Rasaleela celebrations, and ornate gateway engraved with religious motifs, flowers, animals.
Other famous Satras include
Garamurh founded by Lakshmikantadeva which has ancient top or cannons preserved there.
Auniati founded by Niranjan Pathakdeva, famous for Paalnam and Apsara dances.
Kamalabari founded by Bedulapadma Ata, a cultural center.
Shamaguri famous for mask manufacture.
The place has it’s own culture too, primarily influenced by Vaishnavism.
Gayan-bayan, a religious dance performed by Sankaradeva disciples, gets it’s name from the singer( Gayan) and drums( bayan).
The famous Ras Leela, celebrating the life of Shri Krishna, over three days.
Also the festival of Ali aye ligang celebrated for five days, starting from the second Wednesday of Phagun month, that has dishes like purang apin (rice wrapped in special leaves), apong (rice beer) served. The traditional Mising dance Gumrag Soman is performed in every village worshiping the almighty Donyi polo (mother sun and father moon) asking for a good harvest.
The famous Assamese Gamusa is woven here.
Being a wetland, Majuli has a wide variety of flora and fauna, especially a birdwatcher’s paradise.
The island is also famous for the Molai Forest, that was singlehandedly planted by Jadav Payeng to prevent erosion. You can read more about it in detail here.