    From top, left to right: Doriya River of Majuli; Kherkoitia River; an anabranch of theBrahmaputra | |
  Majuli | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Brahmaputra River |
| Coordinates | 27°00′N94°13′E / 27.000°N 94.217°E /27.000; 94.217 |
| Area | 880 km2 (340 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 84.5 m (277.2 ft) |
| Administration | |
Country  India | |
| State | Assam |
| District | Majuli |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 167,304 (2011) |
| Pop. density | 300/km2 (800/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Mising,Deori,Kaibarta,Sonowal Kacharis,Koch,Ahom,Sutiya,Kalita, Gorkhas,Brahmin, Sut, Nath (yogi) groups |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| PIN | 785102, 785104, 785105, 785110, 785106 |
| Telephone code | 03775 |
| Vehicle registration | AS-29 |
| Deputy Commissioner Ratul Chandra Pathak. | |
Majuli (also spelledMajoli)[1] is the largestriver island inAssam, a state inNortheast India. It is bordered by theBrahmaputra River to the south and east, theSubansiri River to the west, and ananabranch of the Brahmaputra to the north.
The island is inhabited by members of theMising,Deori, andSonowal Kachari tribes, and serves as a hub ofAssamese neo-Vaishnavite culture.[2] It is accessible by ferry or boat fromJorhat, which is located approximately 250 kilometers northeast ofGuwahati.
Majuli became the first island in India to be designated as adistrict in 2016.[3] Majuli has been listed on theUNESCO Tentative List[4] since March 2004, classified under the Cultural category as part of itsWorld Heritage[5] nomination process.
Majuli is recognized byGuinness World Records as the world's largest inland river island, with it being bordered by the Subansiri River to its north and the Brahmaputra River to its south.[6][7][8] However, theEncyclopædia Britannica citesBananal Island inBrazil as the largest in the world.[9]
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Majuli is a long and slender river island located in theBrahmaputra River inAssam, India. It developed as a result ofgeomorphological changes caused by floods and shifting river courses. The island lies between two channels: the Brahmaputra to the north and theBurhi Dihing to the south. The Brahmaputra and one of its major tributaries, the Dihing, once flowed parallel and close to each other. Between 1661 and 1696,[10] a series of earthquakes set the stage for a massive flood in 1750, reshaping the region. The extreme flood of 1750 appears to have diverted part of the Brahmaputra's flow through the Dihing channel, about 190 km upstream of its former confluence.[11][12] Its southern branch became known as the Burhi Xuti, while the northern branch turned into the Luit Xuti. Over time, the Luit Xuti diminished and became the Kerkota Xuti, while the Burhi Xuti expanded into the present-day main channel of the Brahmaputra.[13]
The land between the Dihing and the Brahmaputra, corresponding largely to present-day Majuli, was originally part of theChutia kingdom.[14] It is known from Buranjis that the Chutia official Manik Chandra Barua first received the news of Ahom invasion of Dihing/Majuli and marched against them. Battles were fought at Dihing-mukh(present-day southern Majuli), Dikhou Mukh,Shira ati andCheruakata in the Majuli region. Following the Ahom conquest, it was reorganised as the Mung-klang (Dihing) province of the Ahom kingdom, administered under the newly created office of Dihingia Gohain bySuhungmung in 1525.[15]
In the first half of the 17th century, theAhom kingPratap Singha built arampart on Majuli called Meragarh.Lakshmi Singha, an Ahom king who reigned from 1769 to 1780, wrote a grant in 1776 referring to "MajuliPradesh" and its KamalabariSatra, Agnichapori, Gajala Satra, and theTuni River. During theMoamaria rebellion, the island was controlled by Howha, aMoamaria rebel leader.[16]
Majuli emerged as acultural andreligious centre of Assam in the 16th century, following the visit of the social reformerSrimanta Sankardev. Sankardev, a leader of the neo-Vaishnavite movement, propagatedVaishnavism and established monasteries (known assatras) on the island. These institutions became important centres of Assamese religion, culture, andart.[17]
The establishment of satras turned Majuli into a major hub of Vaishnavism, a role it has retained for centuries. UnderBritish colonial rule and followingIndia's independence in 1947, the island continued to be recognized as a centre of Assamese culture. It is also noted for being the world's largest river island.[18]
Over the 19th and 20th centuries, Majuli experienced severeerosion, significantly reducing its size.[19] In the 1790s, the island covered about 1,300 km2 (500 sq mi).[20] By the early 20th century, its area had declined slightly to 1,255 km2 (485 sq mi).[21] As of 2024, continuous erosion had reduced Majuli's area to approximately 880 km2 (340 sq mi).[22]
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The population of Majuli consists of 46.38%scheduled tribes and 14.27%scheduled castes, as well as non-tribal castes ofHindu Assamese. The majority of the island's population isHindu with 99.04% following Hinduism. The Indigenous communities include members of theMising (41.01%),Deori, Kaibarta, andSonowal Kachari tribes. The non-tribal caste Hindu Assamese communities includeKoch,Kalita,Ahom,Sutiya, andJogi. The languages spoken areMising,Assamese, andDeori. The island has144 villages with a population of over 150,000, resulting in a density of 300 individuals per square kilometer.[23]
A ferry service connecting Majuli toJorhat operates six times a day, andnight buses run from Guwahati to Majuli viaLakhimpur. Despite various challenges, modernization has reached the island with the establishment of medical centres and schools. Housing has also transitioned from traditional bamboo and mud structures to concrete buildings.[23]
TheAli Ai Ligang festival, celebrated mid-February for five days, is a grand event that starts on the second Wednesday and ends on the first Wednesday ofFalgun. Local dishes such as purang apin (packed boiled rice),apong (rice beer), and various pork, fish, and chicken dishes are served. The traditional Mising dance called Gumrag Soman is performed in every village to worshipDonyi Polo (Mother Sun and Father Moon) for a good harvest.[24]
In upper Majuli, the majority of Christians from the Mising tribe celebrate Christmas, particularly in the village ofJengraimukh. For the last half millennium, Majuli has served as the cultural centre and cradle of Assamese civilization.[25]
Majuli has long been the centre of Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture, which began in the 15th century under the guidance of the Assamese saint Srimanta Sankardev and his discipleMadhavdev. Many of the satras built by Sankardev still stand, reflecting the vibrant Assamese culture. Sankardev sought refuge in Majuli, spending time in Belguri in West Majuli, where the historic Manikanchan Sanjog incident took place when he met Madhavdeva for the first time. The first satra in Majuli was established in Belguri by Sankardev, leading to the creation of a total of 65 satras. However, today, only 23 of the original 65 are still active. Out of the 665 original satras in Assam, 65 were located in Majuli.
The main survivingsatras are:
Neo-Vaishnavite preacher Madhavdev met hisguru, Sankardev, the founder of neo-Vaishnavism, on the island in an event termed theManikanchan Sanjog.[27] Madhavdev and his mentor enrichedAssamese literature by writing, among other works,Nam Ghosa,Borgeet, andBhatima. Following the footsteps of these Vaishnava leaders, the satras encouraged the writing of plays and devotional songs.
Majuli has also given birth to a host of literary figures, including well-renowned writers such asDhruba Jyoti Borah, poet and critic Rajib Borah, bilingual critic and writer Bhaskar Jyoti Nath, Juri Borah Borgohain, Deba Bhushan Borah, historian Dambarudhar Nath, novelist Gobin Khound, and poet Danny Gam.[28]
The second Assamese newspaper,Asom Bilasini, was published from Majuli starting in 1871.[29]
Majuli is awetland that serves as a habitat for various rare and endangered avian species, particularlymigratory birds that visit during the winter. Species include the greateradjutant stork,pelican,Siberian crane, andwhistling teal. After dark, wild geese and ducks take flight to distant destinations.[30] The island remains relatively pollution-free due to the absence of industrial activity and consistent rainfall.[31]
However, Majuli faces a significant threat from extensivesoil erosion along its banks. Large embankments built in nearby towns upstream to prevent erosion during themonsoon season have had unintended consequences. The turbulent Brahmaputra River now erodes much of the island. Reports indicate that by 1853, Majuli's total area was 1,150 km2, and roughly 33% of this landmass eroded in the latter half of the 20th century. Since 1991, more than 35 villages have been washed away, and surveys predict that Majuli may cease to exist within the next 15 to 20 years.[32]
To save the island, theGovernment of India has sanctioned ₹2.50 billion (US$55 million) for its protection. The Water Resources Department and the Brahmaputra Board have been struggling for the past three decades to resolve the erosion problem but with little success. Recently, it was suggested that constructing a four-lane highway protected by a concrete mat along the southern boundary of Majuli, together with the excavation of the Brahmaputra riverbed, could help address the issue. The project also includes twofloodgates for the Kherkatia Suti, atributary of the Brahmaputra. The Brahmaputra River Restoration Project has yet to be implemented by the government. However, a nomination has been submitted toUNESCO for declaring Majuli as aWorld Heritage Site.[33]
Local environmental activistJadav Payeng has planted a 550-hectare forest known asMolai Forest to combat erosion on the island.[34] Much of the island was once barren sandbars that were vulnerable to erosion, but thanks to Payeng's afforestation efforts, it has become a lush forest. The forest has become a habitat for various animals, includingelephants,tigers,deer, andvultures.[35][36]
The island faces threats of complete disappearance due to shrinking wetlands and climate extremes.[37][38] The island also faces the threat of increased flooding,[38] erosion,[39]displacement,internal migration, and decreasingagricultural productivity.[26]
Agriculture is the primary industry in Majuli, with unmilled rice orpaddy serving as the principal crop. The island cultivates over 100 varieties of rice, including Komal Saul, Bao Dhan, and sticky brown rice, traditionally used inJolpan andPitha. The economy is also supported by handloom weaving,fishing,dairy farming,pottery, andboat-making.[40]
Majuli's public school system is managed by thegovernment of Assam and administered by the Assam State School Education Board.[41] There are several universities, colleges, and institutes offering higher secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs, located on the island, includingMajuli University of Culture,National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology,Majuli College,Jengraimukh College,Rangachahi College, andPub Majuli College.
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Majuli is situated approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) fromJorhat. Tourists can visit the island via a combination of bus and ferry from the Nimati Steamer Ghat, with the journey taking over three hours and involving multiple transfers. Surrounding urban centres includeNorth Lakhimpur,Golaghat,Sibsagar, andDibrugarh district.[42]
Points of interest in Majuli include the Vaishnava Satras and traditional crafts such as pottery, mask making, and the weaving of handmademekhla chadars. Several festivals, likeAli Ai Ligang, Paal Namm, Folqu, andPorag, are also celebrated on the island.[43]
The southern region of Majuli is a popular site for birdwatching, particularly from November to March, due to the favourable weather and increased avian activity.[44] Other notable birdwatching areas include Sakuli Beel, Verki Beel, and Magurmari Beel.[45]
Majuli Port is served by a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferry service operated by theInland Waterways Authority of India on National Waterway 2. The service employs two low-draft vessels, each capable of carrying approximately 200 passengers, four cars, and two trucks. In addition to water-based transport, a two-lane bridge is under construction to provide a direct road connection between Majuli and Jorhat. Work on the bridge commenced on 18 February 2021, and it is designed to link Neematighat with Kamalabari.[46]
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