The peacock island umananda
Yesterday I wrote about Majuli (মাজুলী) the largest river Island in the world in the river Brahmaputra. Today I shall write about the smallest river island in the world i.e Umananda (উমানন্দ) which is interestingly also in the river Brahmaputra in the City of Guwahati,Assam. It also have its own significance and known for many things.
Uma (উমা) in Assamese is another name of Goddess Parvati who happen to be the beloved wife of Lord Shiva. And Ananda (আনন্দ) means Happiness which together makes it Umananda. The British named it The Peacock Island by looking at the shape of the island when looked from a distance.
As suggested by the Hindu Mythology it is believed that Shiva created the island for his wife Parvati's Happiness. When Shiva was in a deep meditation here he was interrupted by Kamadeva and Shiva out of anger burnt him with his third eye.
In 1694,Gargaya Handique Phukan(গৰগয়া সন্দিকৈ ফুকন) the Minister of then Ahom (আহোম) king Supaatphaa was ordered to build temple in the island and name it Umananda Temple. It stood tall there for centuries until In 1897,an earthquake damaged a large part of the temple. After that the locals repaired the temple. There a a lot of Hindu Gods craftings of Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu,etc.
As this temple was highly related with Lord Shiva,the Mahasivaratri(festival of Shiva) is celebrated with great Joy and Enthusiasm here. Weeks of preparations were done for this special day. And devotees comes in numbers from everywhere to visit on this day.
Umananda is also famous for the Golden Langurs(সোণালী বান্দৰ) which are considered to be most endangered primate species of Monkey of India found only here. They have lived here from a very long time and are believed to be sacred.
As this is an isolated island, so boats are the only way to reach there available in the banks of Brahmaputra.
Apart from being the smallest river island in the world. The stories of lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati's love, the Temple built by the Ahoms, natural beautiful view of the island, the peacock shape of it, the endangered species of Golden Langur found only here are the things which attracts tourists and locals every year in numbers. Even the Local Government is doing a lot for it's development and to attract more people to see this beautiful island Umananda.
Thank you.......
Uma (উমা) in Assamese is another name of Goddess Parvati who happen to be the beloved wife of Lord Shiva. And Ananda (আনন্দ) means Happiness which together makes it Umananda. The British named it The Peacock Island by looking at the shape of the island when looked from a distance.
As suggested by the Hindu Mythology it is believed that Shiva created the island for his wife Parvati's Happiness. When Shiva was in a deep meditation here he was interrupted by Kamadeva and Shiva out of anger burnt him with his third eye.
In 1694,Gargaya Handique Phukan(গৰগয়া সন্দিকৈ ফুকন) the Minister of then Ahom (আহোম) king Supaatphaa was ordered to build temple in the island and name it Umananda Temple. It stood tall there for centuries until In 1897,an earthquake damaged a large part of the temple. After that the locals repaired the temple. There a a lot of Hindu Gods craftings of Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu,etc.
As this temple was highly related with Lord Shiva,the Mahasivaratri(festival of Shiva) is celebrated with great Joy and Enthusiasm here. Weeks of preparations were done for this special day. And devotees comes in numbers from everywhere to visit on this day.
Umananda is also famous for the Golden Langurs(সোণালী বান্দৰ) which are considered to be most endangered primate species of Monkey of India found only here. They have lived here from a very long time and are believed to be sacred.
As this is an isolated island, so boats are the only way to reach there available in the banks of Brahmaputra.
Apart from being the smallest river island in the world. The stories of lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati's love, the Temple built by the Ahoms, natural beautiful view of the island, the peacock shape of it, the endangered species of Golden Langur found only here are the things which attracts tourists and locals every year in numbers. Even the Local Government is doing a lot for it's development and to attract more people to see this beautiful island Umananda.
Thank you.......
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