Majuli Island, which is a famous island in the river Brahmaputra, is located in the northeastern state of Assam. It is the biggest island in the country and the largest in the world. This island is located near the Jorhat district. This island is famous for its natural beauty, cultural significance, and vibrant culture. This island is the home of Assamese culture and is rich in biodiversity and environmentally friendly as well. In 2016, Majuli was recognised as the world’s largest island, and also became India’s first island district.
Which island is known as the largest river island in the world?
Majuli Island is known as the largest river island in the world.
What is the location of Majuli Island?
Majuli Island is located in Assam, near Jorhat, and this island covers an area of 880 square kilometres. This island is formed by the Brahmaputra River in the south and Kherkutia Xuti, a branch of the Brahmaputra River, which joins the Subansiri River in the north.
Majuli Island is known for its lush greenery, tranquil water bodies, and extensive paddy fields. But during the monsoon season, many parts of Majuli Island get submerged in the water. Its fertile soil, enriched by annual monsoon floods, makes it an important agricultural hub, particularly for rice cultivation, though the floods also pose challenges to its inhabitants.
What is Majuli Island's historical and cultural significance?
Majuli Island has vast roots behind its historical and cultural heritage. Majuli has held a significant place since the 1500s; this island has been known as the main cultural hub of Assam. People see it as the Heart of Vaishnavism, which is a belief in one God within Hinduism. This belief was spread by a respected saint and reformer named Srimanta Sankardeva. Back in the 1400s, Sankardeva and his follower Madhavdeva set up many satras, which are like religious centres, on the island. These places became important for religion. culture, and the arts. Even now, these satras are key in keeping Assam's old music, dances, and writings alive.
How is Majuli Island rich in biodiversity and the environment?
Beyond its rich culture, Majuli is also known for its diverse natural environment. The island's wet areas, riverside forests, and waters are safe places for many animals, especially birds that travel long distances. You can find several bird types here that are rare or in danger, which makes it a wonderful spot for people who love watching birds and nature.
Majuli also has large rice fields and many bamboo, banana, and sugarcane plants. Growing rice is the main way people on the island make a living. They even grow special kinds of rice that you can only find there, like Komal Saul and Bao Dhan. Besides farming, the islanders also fish and weave cloth by hand. The detailed, traditional Assamese fabrics they make are a local speciality.
Even though Majuli is beautiful and has a lot of different plants and animals, it faces serious environmental problems. The biggest problem is the land being washed away. The strong flow of the Brahmaputra River has slowly eaten away big parts of the island over the years, making it much smaller.
What are the famous places around Majuli Island?
Below in the table, all its famous places are given:
| Famous Place | What makes this place so famous |
| Satras (Religious Centres) | Majuli has about 22 active satras, with Auniati, Dakhinpat, and Garmur being the main ones. You can visit these places to see the island's religion and culture up close. They're known for making traditional masks, amazing dance shows, and old writings. |
| Raas Mahotsav (Big Festival) | One of the biggest things to see is this festival that celebrates the life of Lord Krishna. It happens every November and has great performances, including the famous Bhaona plays about Krishna. The whole island feels alive during this time, and people come from all over to see it. |
| Watching Birds | If you love birds, Majuli is the place to be! Its wet areas attract birds that fly in from faraway places like Siberia and Europe. You can see many different kinds of birds, especially in the winter when they stay here. |
| Making Masks at Samaguri Satra | Majuli has a special craft of making traditional masks used in religious plays. The Samaguri Satra is very well known for making these colourful masks by hand for the Bhaona plays. You can watch how they're made and even buy them as souvenirs. |
| Local Handmade Items | The island is also known for its bright, hand-woven and handmade crafts. The local Mising people are especially good at weaving beautiful patterns. You can visit the villages to see how they weave and buy lovely things like gamochas (towels) and mekhla chadors (traditional clothes). |
Conclusion
Majuli Island, the world's largest river island in Assam, is a significant cultural and biodiversity hub, home to Assamese Vaishnavism and unique crafts. Facing severe erosion from the Brahmaputra, its rich heritage and ecological importance endure, though threatened.
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