Majuli island

Jorhat, Jan. 19: In an attempt to keep the Mising population within the Vaishnavite fold, the satradhikars of Majuli have decided to open a Vaishnavite complex at Jengraimukh for the benefit of the community.

The complex will include a namghar, a school, a museum and a cultural complex. Its foundation stone was laid a couple of days back.

At least six satras are involved in the project, which is being dubbed as the biggest cultural complex in the island.

“We have approached several agencies and well-wishers to collect funds for the construction. The complex, when ready, will be of great help to the Mising community,” said Pitambar Debogoswami, the satradhikar of Auniati Satra.

Majuli, considered to be a seat of Vaishnavite culture in the state, is under a threat perception with hundreds of Misings converting to other religions in recent times.

Debogoswami said the basic idea behind the Vaishnavite complex was to help the Mising community.

“Jengrai is one of the backward areas of the island and we want to provide education and other facilities to the people there. We will also teach sattriya dance and music to the children,” he said.

The satras have been taking several initiatives to keep the Mising community, the dominating population in the island, under the Vashnavite fold. “We have staged bhaonas (religious plays) in the backward areas of the island recently and had constructed a namghar at Jengraimukh a few years back. Our followers visit the backward areas frequently nowadays and keep in touch with the Mising community,” Debogoswami said.

He, however, admitted a lack of initiative in this regard on part of the satras so far.

“The economically backward Mising population were taken advantage of and converted,” Debogoswami said.

A resident of Borpomua village in Jengraimukh, who had converted a few years ago, however, said he had done so at his own will.