Assam Majuli Manuscript Painting
Folk Painting
History
Majuli's manuscript paintings are a religious art form rooted in Vaishnavite culture, inspired by the Pala school of painting. Introduced by Srimanta Sankardev, they depict tales from the Bhagavata Purana. Painted on agarwood bark with natural colors and durable ink, they illustrate stories from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Raw Materials and Tools
RAW MATERIALS: Agarwood Bark (Xashi), Natural Colors, Durable Native Ink, Haital (Yellow Orpiment)
TOOLS: Sharp Knife, Wooden Stick, Bamboo Rod, Ghila Guti (Polishing Stone)
Process
The tree bark is stripped, reversed, and sun-dried for a week before undergoing dhua sang, where it is smoked in the kitchen for six months. When needed for manuscripts, the bark roll is softened overnight by mist exposure, then carefully unrolled with a wooden stick. Cleaning the outer layer takes a day using a sharp knife. After smoothing with haital and polishing with ghila guti, the bark is ready for writing.
Design and Color
Handmade paper treated with a mixture of earth and cow dung to create a smooth surface is used for painting. Thin, delicate lines of a soot-and-water mixture are applied with a bamboo pen. Some paintings feature tiny color patches, but most are rendered in black and white.
Product Range
Majuli's ancient tradition preserves manuscripts and paintings that showcase intricate religious art and storytelling. Themes often depict scenes from the lives of Hindu deities—especially Lord Krishna.