Majuli: Its history and culture

Majuli is a historic river island in the upper Brahmaputra region of Assam, India. Formerly part of Jorhat District, it was declared a full-fledged district on 8 September 2016. Once spanning around 160 miles in length and 16 miles in width, Majuli has now shrunk due to erosion but still covers approximately 500 sq. km, with a population of around 1.67 lakh as per the 2011 Census.

Majuli, known as the cultural core of Vaishnavism in Assam, was the meeting spot of Srimanta Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva in the 16th century, establishing the island as a key location in the Bhakti movement. The two saints constructed satra institutions (monasteries) and namghars (prayer halls), which continue to have an impact on the island's social and spiritual life.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the island saw the migration of several tribes, notably the Mising, a group from the southern banks of the Brahmaputra. The Mising people began settling in Majuli at the end of the 18th and early 19th centuries, and by the mid-20th century, they had become a dominant ethnic group on the island. As of today, they constitute 46% of the island's population. The Misings, like the indigenous Deuris and Kacharis, have significantly contributed to the island’s agriculture, craftsmanship, and culture. In fact, the Misings’ vibrant festivals and rituals, such as the Ali Aye Lrigang, reflect the island’s deep-rooted agricultural traditions. Apart from the Misings, Majuli has a diverse population, including Assamese-speaking caste Hindus, Bengalis, and Marwari traders. The island’s society is an amalgamation of these diverse groups, each contributing to Majuli’s rich cultural heritage.

Majuli, known as the cultural core of Vaishnavism in Assam, was the meeting spot of Srimanta Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva in the 16th century, establishing the island as an important point in the Bhakti movement. The two saints constructed satra institutions (monasteries) and namghars (prayer halls), which continue to have an impact on the island's social and spiritual life. The Ahom monarchs supported the movement, confirming Majuli's place in Assam's religious and cultural history.

Srimanta Sankaradeva's arrival in Majuli in the 16th century constituted a historical moment, bringing Vaishnavism and the Bhakti movement to the region. Sankaradeva and his student Madhavadeva founded satra institutions and namghars, which were vital to the island's spiritual and cultural life. These satras not only promoted religious rituals like as nama-kirtana (devotional singing), but also promoted creative manifestations such as bhaona (devotional theater), ras-lila (dance-drama based on Lord Krishna's life), and satriya dance, all of which are still practiced today.

While the island’s economy remains largely agriculture-based, its people are also known for their artistry in traditional pottery, mask-making, boat-making, and silk weaving. Majuli's handloom and mask-making traditions are crucial to its cultural heritage. The Mising community, who came in the 18th and 19th centuries, introduced silk weaving and created a distinct trade of raising mulberry silkworms and producing exquisite textiles for religious rites and festivals.

 Mask-making became crucial to the Vaishnavite bhaona performances inaugurated by Srimanta Sankaradeva in the 16th century. Masks made in the Chamaguri Satra portray mythological figures and are utilized in devotional theater, demonstrating the island's rich spiritual and cultural legacy. Both crafts are important parts of Majuli's cultural character.