MAJULI: THE UNSUNG ETERNITY

You will adore your eyes for giving you a glimpse of this scenic island, nestled in the laps of the supreme Brahmaputra river. Just 20 km from Jorhat in Assam, the island boasts of being the largest river island of the world and the most populated fresh water island in South Asia. But once you step on its lands , you can't resist to believe that it is worth more such titles, as it simply seems to be an abode of the Almighty on Earth.

The ferry rides that that help you traverse across the river to the Majuli island are a wonderful experience, with the prime views of the stunning natural habitat, the cool whether, the azure waters and the vivid avian fauna. The bike or bus rides help you explore the places around as the island welcomes you with its open arms of natural freshness and greenery.

Majuli can be called a land of diversity. Be it people, flora and fauna, monasteries, you will find a variety of them spread around the place. Around 1.5 lakh people live in the villages on the island, most of them belong to Mishing tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, Deori Tribe and Sonowal Kacharis Tribe.

You can find 22 beautiful monasteries that remain today, out of the 85 satras or monasteries which were built in Majuli by Assamese saint Sankaradeva. Some of them possess precious items such as utensils, weapons, jewelery etc., mirroring the culture and traditions of Assam. Some still serve as centres of learning about the literature, art and culture.

The rich art and culture of the island can be seen in these satras where one can find people involved in making colorful masks, molding out pottery, handloom-making and practicing various dance forms unique to the culture of the place.

Majuli is known as the perfect place to spot rare species of migratory birds including Adjutant Storks, Pelicans and Cranes. A lot of birds are also caught and eaten by the tribal people.

Festivals and celebrations are an integral part of Majuli and for a traveler the festive season brings a rare chance to explore the Assamese culture, tribal living and food habits, the perfect handicraft and pottery souvenirs and the most important activity which is to observe the tribal celebrations. The Ali-ai-ligang festival in Feb-March and the Majuli Festival in November are the main festivals celebrated here.

It is said that the island is sinking by the floods of the adjoining rivers, and in a matter of 20 to 30 years, the beautiful paradise will be lost to natural phenomenons. So, its important to try to save these natural wonders with conscious eco-travel and to know more about these unexplored domains before they vanish.

- Shikha Priyadarshini