Majuli is a unique riverine delta located on the Brahmaputra River in Assam. It has been formed due to the dynamics of the vast river system and is primarily rural, home to over 240 villages with a rich mix of tribes and communities. The island is renowned for being the seat of the neo-Vaishnavite culture of Assam and houses satras or monasteries. The satras in Majuli predate the birth of the island, and these ancient satras have a tradition of tribal art, folk culture and heritage of the Ahom kingdom. Each Satra has a distinct identity and serves as a sanctorum to a different art form. For instance, the Dakhinpat and Garamur satras stage theatre performances, which use dramatic masks. Some of these masks have been exhibited in museums abroad, such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
Recently, the traditional art forms of Mukha Xilpo and Manuscript Paintings in Majuli have been awarded the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This recognition by the Centre highlights the deep cultural heritage and historical significance inherent in these traditional folk crafts. The Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, expressed his joy at this significant milestone, emphasising on micro-blogging platform X that this recognition will protect and preserve the rich artistic legacy of the state's artisans. "Majuli’s Mukha Shilpa traces its origins to Srimanta Sankardev, who used arts as medium for Bhakti," he said.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place. In addition, the qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product should be essentially due to the place of origin. Since the qualities depend on the geographical place of production, there is a clear link between the product and its original place of production.
Mukha Xilpo, or Mukha Shilpa, is a traditional art form from Majuli that involves designing masks to portray characters during Bhaonas and Raas Utsavs. The process of creating these masks is quite elaborate and can take up to two weeks to complete. The mask is made on a woven bamboo frame. Introduced by Saint Sankardeva during the medieval period, these masks embody various characters, emotions, and Vaisnavism themes, reflecting the socio-religious fabric of Majuli.
Majuli is also home to unique manuscript paintings that depict stories from Hindu mythological epics such as Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Bhagavata Purana. These paintings primarily focus on events related to Lord Krishna, and the Bhagavata Purana is a testament to that. The region is known for three popular styles of manuscript writing, namely Gargayan script, Kaithall, and Bamunia. If you're a history buff or an art lover, then you wouldn't want to miss visiting Majuli to witness these unique manuscript paintings firsthand.
Although it was once displaced due to soil erosion and lost many manuscripts of historical and cultural importance, Kamlabari Satra still has a lot to offer to Majulis cultural richness. Its Ankia Naata drama performed in the original Brazawalli language used by Saint Shankardevis renowned. The Saali Nitya, another beautiful dance form originated here.
Every November, the place hosts the three-day Majuli Music Festival which has so far completed two editions in 2019 and 2021. The event comprises live music performances by 30 independent artists from different parts of India. Apart form that there will be art and culture exchanges, exhibitions, and the region's traditional wine and food of the indigenous people. You can camp under the stars, connect with nature, and go birding, fishing, boating, and end the days with gorgeous island sunsets. The festival promotes rural ecotourism and brings sustainability to village entrepreneurs.
The Bengenaati Satra, about 8 km east of Kamlabari, is famous for its Natua and Ojapali dances. Its collection has a beautiful umbrella made entirely of gold. The satra is quite a wonderful sight during its unique Fakua festival, which is somewhat similar to Holi.
Shamaguri Satra, 12 km from Kamlabari, is widely known for its masks, which are made out of wood, bamboo and cane and are used in various forms of drama all over Majuli.
Auniati Satra, half an hour by bus from Kamlabari, is home to around 400 devotees, followers of the Udaseen Pratha of Madhabdev, which demands celibacy from its adherents. In case you are here in October/ November, dont miss the annual Pal Naam, a religious ceremony in which prayers are offered for four to five days without a break.
Dakhinpat Satra is best known for its unique Ras Leela, the cosmic dance depicting Lord Krishna dancing with the gopis. The performance (in October/ November each year) is rich with both Krishna and his brother Balaram wearing crowns of real gold and silver respectively. The chief attraction is the stylised dance of the gopis that is so extraordinary that people from various parts of the country and abroad attend. From Dakhinpat Satra also originates a fusion of Devdasi and Satriya dance elements called Natua. Another artistic masterpiece at its best here is Ojapali, a highly evolved dance form that is dying in most other parts of Assam.
Majuli is accessed by ferry from Jorhat, which is about 22km/1 hr away. Flights to Jorhat are available from Guwahati, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata from the Rowriah Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in Assam.