Majuli’s 600-year-old manuscript painting tradition struggles to survive despite GI tag

On Majuli, the world’s largest river island nestled in the Brahmaputra, an ancient art form continues to survive against the odds. Known for its Vaishnavite monasteries, Majuli is also home to a lesser-known but equally rich tradition, manuscript painting, a practice that has endured for over six centuries.

The art form was introduced in the 15th century by saint-scholar Srimanta Sankardev, who used visual storytelling to spread devotional teachings. Painted on delicate sheets of bark taken from the Agarwood tree, locally known as Sanshi, these manuscripts illustrate sacred narratives from epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.