Majuli: The Cultural City Of  Assam | Cultural Capital Of Assam

Rongali Bihu(Husari) Of The Majuli Island

Majuli: The Cultural City Of  Assam | Cultural Capital Of Assam

Despite all its handicaps, Majuli Island has been a known centre of cultural activities since at least the middle of the 17th century when the great Vaishnava monasteries were founded at the initiative of the Ahom kingdom. Being based on the Neo-Vaishnava ideals, these monasteries(Satras) and numerous villages are the centres at the cultivation of colourful Assamese classical dance and music(Satriya Nritya and geet) and theatrical performances(Bhaonas), art and craft. With ideals of non-violence and social harmony preached by Sankardeva, and the Satra institutions as an instrument of upholding them, the people of Majuli Island at large have not only maintained a continuous cultural link with the greater Indian society, but at the same time, have also contributed to the ideals of the world peace-keeping bodies at large. This Neo-Vaishnavite ideals and practices based on the cultural triage of India have distinguished it as a cultural heritage site. It is, However, not that the Vaishnava monasteries and their ideas and activities alone from the symbol of its cultural character. Various tribes, such as the Misings, the Kacharis, the Deoris who from an roundtable part of its inhabitants have their respective and colourful features dance, music, art, and crafts, rituals and functions, which them a wonderful part of all India ethnic colours and they cannot scape notices of outside visitors of minute observations.

      It is interesting that the Satras of the Majuli Island, particularly the Auniati Satra has been a culture of literary pursuits in both Sanskrit and Assamese since inception. The culture of writing and preserving the graphical works of Vaishnava Saints or its Satraradhikaras song the Satra-inmates(Bhakats), the culture of composition of drama, music, and other religious and secular works since that peri has not only made the library of  the Satra one of the richest of kind in Assam in so far as the early literary collections are concern, but it was here that large collections of early manuscripts various Satras and treatises beautifully painted and mostly illustrated are carefully preserved. At present there are 178 preserved manuscripts in the Satra exclude those already lost, damaged due to flood, theft or for any other reason.  Culture in Majuli Island can be viewed in the following categories-

1. Drama(Ankia Bhaona, Assamese Bhaona etc.)
2. Music(Satriya Geet, Borgeet etc.)
3. Festivals(Raas Leela, Bihu, Palnaam etc.)
4. Manuscript Writing
5. The Different Community People Of The Majuli Island
6. Fishing
7. Hand and Bambo Craft
8. Boat Making
9. Mask Making
10. Village Pottery Industry
11. Weaving 
12. Dance(Satriya Nritya)

Mask

Since all, we know that Majuli Island is the cultural city of Assam. There are 22 Satras in the Majuli Island, 4 of them are the main Satras. The name of all Satras are-

1. Sri Sri Auniati Satra.

    P.O. Auniati Satra

    Mouza: Kamalabari

2. Sri Sri Dakhinpat Satra

    P.O. Dakhinpat Satra

    Mouza: Kamalabari

3. Sri Sri Bengena-ati Satra

    P.O. Bengena-ati Satra

    Mouza: Kamalabari

4. Sri Sri Purani(Prachin) Chamaguri Satra

    P.O. Bongaon

    Mouza: Salmora

5. Sri Sri Natun Chamaguri Satra

    P.O Chamaguri Satra

    Mouza: Kamalabari

6. Sri Sri Ahatguri Bar Satra

    P.O. Ahatguri

    Mouza: Kamalabari

7. Sri Sri Garamur Satra

    P.O. Garamur Head Post Office

    Mouza: Kamalabari

8. Sri Sri Uttar Kamalabari Satra

    P.O. Kamalabari

    Mouza: Kamalabari

9. Sri Sri Natun Kamalabari Satra

    P.O. Kamalabari

    Mouza: Kamalabari

10. Sri Sri Alengi Narasingha Satra

      P.O. Bhakatidowar       
      Mouza: Salmora

11. Sri Sri Garamur Saru Satra

      P.O. Garamur

      Mouza: Kamalabari

12. Sri Sri Bihimpur Satra

      P.O. Tataya

      Mouza: Kamalabari

13. Sri Sri Bhogpur Satra

      P.O. Bengena-ati Satra

      Mouza: Kamalabari

14. Sri Sri Majuli Kamalabari Satra       
      P.O. Hazarika Chuk       
      Mouza: Kamalabari

15. Sri Sri Dakhinpat Grihasthi/Ashrami Satra       
      P.O. Dakhinpat Satra       
      Mouza: Salmora

16. Sri Sri Alengi Madarguri Satra      
      P.O. Ahatguri       
      Mouza: Kamalabari

17. Sri Sri Bar Alengi Satra       
      P.O. Balichapori       
      Mouza: Kamalabari

18. Sri Sri Matiabari(Adi Bihimpur) Satra       
      P.O. Bengena-ati Satra       
      Mouza: Kamalabari

19. Sri Sri Malual Bar Alengi Satra       
      P.O. Karati Par       
      Mouza: Kamalabari

20. Sri Sri Punia Satra       
      P.O. Karki Chuk       
      Mouza: Kamalabari

21. Sri Sri Owa Satra       
      P.O. Garamur       
      Mouza: Kamalabari

22. Sri Sri Adhar Mahara Satra       
      P.O. Kamalabari       
      Mouza: Kamalabari

Other Religious Institutions(Locally Called Thaan) Of The Majuli Island:

 1. Beloguri Thaan      
     Vill: Na Pamua Gaon      
     P.O. Gayan Gaon
 
2. Ajoli Aai Thaan     
    Vill: Mekheli Gaon      
    P.O. Natun Chamaguri
 
3. Atoi Chuk Thaan      
    Vill: Korhaal Gaon      
    P.O. Bongaon  

4. Phuleshwari Thaan      
    Vill: Karki Chuk      
    P.O. Karki Chuk

Also Read: Majuli Theme Song By Nilotpal Bora

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