Artistes perform a bhaona in Majuli. File picture

Jorhat, March 13: The Majuli Cultural Landscape Management Authority (MCLMA) is developing a website that will have all the details about the island and its culture.

The MCLMA was set up under the Majuli Cultural Landscape Region Act, 2006, with the chief secretary as its chairman, cultural affairs principal secretary its vice-chairman and commissioner (Upper Assam division) its chief executive officer. It aims to protect the island from floods and erosion and develop as well as preserve its unique identity.

Chief executive officer S.I. Hussain, who is also the commissioner (Upper Assam division), told this correspondent today that the website would have all information about the island vis-à-vis its people, including all ethnic groups, their culture, heritage, flora and fauna, tourism, traditional lifestyles and indigenous food habits.

He said that the website, the first such government website on Majuli, would have authentic information about various aspects related to the island.

“Along with Vaishnavite culture founded by Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev several centuries back which has been kept alive by the xatras (Vaishnavite monasteries) in Majuli, culture and lifestyles of several tribal communities residing in the island will be available at the proposed website,” Hussain said.

He said the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Guwahati, is designing the website while the content is being provided by the MCLMA.

The NIC will run the website.

A committee comprising eminent persons with vast knowledge on all aspects of the island, along with government officials, had compiled information for the website.

Hussain said the website, which was in its final stages, is likely to be launched by end-April.

Elaborating on the features of the website, the commissioner said apart from still photographs, there would be video clippings of different dance forms practised on the island.

Borgeets (devotional songs penned by Srimanta Sankardev and his disciple Madhabdev) will be uploaded on the website.

Clippings of bhaona (dramas on religious themes written by Srimanta Sankardev), preparation of a variety of traditional cuisine of different communities residing in the island, a boat journey on the Brahmaputra, scenes of sunrise and sunset on a river bank, birds in the water bodies, among others, will be uploaded on the website.

Hussain said the website is expected to contribute to the island’s bid to be included in the World Heritage List as all authenticated information on the island will be available.