River island in India
As seen from Umananda Ghat, near Guwahati Highcourt (August 2018)
Umananda Island is the smallest inhabited river islet in the middle of river Brahmaputra , flowing through the city of Guwahati in Assam , a state in northeast India .
Its name derives from Assamese Uma , another name for the Hindu goddess Parvati , the wife of Shiva ; and ananda , "joy". A British officer named the island Peacock Island for its structure, which he thought resembled the splayed feathers of a peacock . It is also known as Bhasmachal , from the words bhasma , meaning to destroy, and chal , meaning place. The legend giving rise to this name is that Kamdev, the god of love in Hindu mythology , after interrupting Shiva in the middle of a deep meditation on the islet, was burnt to ashes.[1]
It is visited mostly for its Shiva temple, the Umananda Temple , and is also home to a large population of golden langurs , an endangered species of primate.[1]
The islet can be reached via 10-minute ferry , available from Umananda Ghat, located near Guwahati Highcourt.
Mythology [ ]
According to Hindu mythology , Shiva created the island for his wife Parvati's happiness and pleasure. Shiva is said to have resided here in the form of Bhayananda. According to a myth in Kalika Purana , Shiva burnt Kamadeva with his third eye on Umananda when he interrupted Shiva's deep meditation, hence its alternative name Bhasmachal (Assamese: bhasma , "ash"; and achal , "hill"; literally, "hill of ashes").
History [ ]
In 1897, an earthquake damaged the temple heavily, but was later repaired by a local merchant. The temple displays mixture of both Hindu Vaishnavism and Shaivism . There are Assamese craftings of Ganesha , Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu , and other Hindu deities. During the repairing work of the temple some new Vaishnavi scripts were written on the walls. Craftsmen also carved figures out of rock on the island.[citation needed ]
Festivals [ ]
Maha Shivaratri is widely celebrated in Umananda. Monday is considered to be the holiest day in the temple and the new moon brings bliss to the pilgrims.[citation needed ]
Biodiversity [ ]
Island is home Golden Langur
Umananda Island was the home to the species of the endangered golden langur , introduced to the island in the 1980s, with the last one dying in 2020.[2]
The island is dotted with tamarind trees.[citation needed ]
See also [ ]
References [ ]
Coordinates : 26°11′47″N 91°44′42″E / 26.19639°N 91.74500°E / 26.19639; 91.74500
show Worship in Hinduism
Goal
Attain "Moksha " ("Nirvana " in Buddhism)
by earning "Punya "
through practicing
"Good karma " - the good deeds
"Sanskara " - the sixteen rites of passage
"Yamas " - the five restraints
"Niyama " - the ten good observances including the "Īśvarapūjana " (worship of god).
Main topics
Aarti/Aarathi
Bhajan/Bhajana
Darśana
Deities
Festivals
Hindu texts
Homa (Yagna/Yagnam )
Kirtan
Mantra/Mantram
Murti
Pañcabhūtá
Tilaka/Tilakam
Utsavamu/Utsava
Vrata/Vratamu
Yatra
Rituals
Ajapa japa
Bhajan
Brahmamuhurtha
Jagran
Jai Shri Ram
Japa
Kirtan
Likhita japa
Om
Sandhyavandanam
Shaktipat
Stotra
Third eye
Yoga
Mantras Objects Materials
Agarwood
Akshaya Patra
Alta
Batasha
Camphor
Charu
Geru
Ghee
Incense
Jaggery
Kautuka
Milk
Panchagavya
Puffed rice
Raksasutra
Rudraksha
Sindoor
Soma
Tulsi
Turmeric
Vibhuti
Water
[[Rudraksha ]]
Instruments
Dholak
Harmonium
Karatalas
Khol
Manjira
Mridangam
Tabla
Iconography
Lingam
Murti
Om
Pindi
Rangoli
Shaligram
Swastika
Yoni
more...
Places Roles
Guru
Pandit
Pujari
Rishi
Sadhu
Sannyasa
Swami
Yogi
more...
Sacred animals
Nāga
Naga Panchami
Nagaradhane
Sacred ecology
Rivers : Ganges , Yamuna , Sarasvati , Narmada
Mountains : Mount Kailash , Char Dham mountains and Amarnath mountain, Gangotri mountain. Yamunotri mountain, Sarasvotri mountain (origin of Sarasvati River ), Nanda Devi , Dhosi Hill
Sacred tress and plants
Trees
Akshayavat
Banana leaf
Kadamba
Kalpavriksha
Panchavati trees
Ashvattha (ficus religiosa , Peepal)
Bilva (aegle marmelos , Bengal Quince)
Amalaki (phyllanthus emblica , Indian Gooseberry, Amla)
Ashoka (Saraca asoca , Ashok)
Nimba (Azadirachta indica , Neem)
Shami (prosopis spicigera , Indian Mesquite)
Udumbara (ficus racemosa , Cluster Fig, Gular)
Vata (ficus benghalensis , Banyan, see Bodhi Tree and Largest Banyan trees )
Parijaat
Sacred groves
Sandalwood
Fruits and other plants Flowers
See also
Indian-origin religions
Buddhism
Hinduism
Jainism
Sikhism
Glossary of Hinduism terms
Firewalking
Temple dance
Persecution of Hindus
show Hinduism topics Philosophy
Texts
Classification Vedas
Rigveda
Yajurveda
Samaveda
Atharvaveda
Divisions Upanishads
Upavedas
Ayurveda
Dhanurveda
Natyaveda
Sthapatyaveda
Vedanga Other
Deities
Gods
Trimurti
Rama
Krishna
Ganesha
Kartikeya
Hanuman
Indra
Agni
Surya
Vayu
Varuna
more
Goddesses
Tridevi
Saraswati
Lakshmi
Parvati
Shakti
Durga
Kali
Sati
Sita
Radha
Mahavidya
Matrika
Bhumi
more
Practices
Worship Sanskaras Varnashrama
Varna
Brahmin
Kshatriya
Vaishya
Shudra
Ashrama
Festivals
Diwali
Holi
Shivaratri
Raksha Bandhan
Navaratri
Durga Puja
Ramlila
Vijayadashami
Ganesh Chaturthi
Rama Navami
Janmashtami
Onam
Pongal
Makar Sankranti
New Year
Kumbh Mela
Haridwar
Nashik
Prayag
Ujjain
Other
Related
Hindus
Denominations
Law
Calendar
Anti-Hindu sentiment
Criticism
Hindu gurus and saints
Hindu studies
Iconography
Mythology
Nationalism
Persecution
Pilgrimage sites
Glossary
Hinduism by country
Hindu temples
Outline
Category
Portal
WikiProject
show State of
Assam Capital : Dispur
State symbols Topics History
Kamarupa
Chutiya Kingdom
Kamata Kingdom
Ahom kingdom
Kachari Kingdom
Colonial Assam
Assam Province (1912 – 1947)
Legislative Assembly (Since 1937)
Assam Mail
Assam Accord
Golaghat Convention
Assam History Timeline
Administration
Government
Legislative Assembly
Chief Ministers
Governors
High Court
Human rights Commission
Police
Political Party
Districts and divisions
North Assam
Biswanath
Darrang
Sonitpur
Udalguri
Lower Assam
Baksa
Barpeta
Bongaigaon
Chirang
Dhubri
Kokrajhar
Kamrup
Kamrup Metro
Goalpara
Nalbari
South Salmara Mankachar
Central Assam
Dima Hasao
Hojai
Karbi Anglong
Karbi Anglong (West)
Morigaon
Nagaon
Upper Assam
Charaideo
Dibrugarh
Dhemaji
Golaghat
Jorhat
Lakhimpur
Majuli
Sivasagar
Tinsukia
Barak Valley
Cachar
Hailakandi
Karimganj
Geography Culture
Assamese language
Assamese alphabet
Jolpan
Traditional crafts
Bihu
Folk dances of Assam
Ekasarana Dharma
Borgeet
Satra
Sattriya Dance
Saraai
Gamosa
Textiles and dresses (Muga and Eri )
Arts , literature , music and cinema People
History
Assamese people
Ahom
Assamese Brahmins
Kalitas
Koch
Chutia
Tribes of Assam
Bodo
Deori
Dimasa
Karbi
Mising
List of people from Assam
Notable surnames Urban areas
Barpeta
Bongaigaon
Dhubri
Dibrugarh
Diphu
Goalpara
Golaghat
Guwahati
Jorhat
Karimganj
Nagaon
North Lakhimpur
Sivasagar
Silchar
Tezpur
Tinsukia
Fairs and Festivals
Hindu Temples
History
show Tourism in India By state
Highest points of each state
Andhra Pradesh
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Assam
Bihar
Delhi
Chhattisgarh
Goa
Gujarat
Himachal Pradesh
Jammu and Kashmir
Jharkhand
Haryana
Karnataka
Kerala
Ladakh
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Mizoram
North East India
Odisha
Puducherry
Punjab
Rajasthan
Telangana
Tamil Nadu
Uttar Pradesh
Uttarakhand ./
West Bengal
Types
Bollywood tourism
International Film Festival of India
Mumbai Film City
Hydrabad Ramoji Film City
Bridges :
Historical bridges
Highest bridge Chenab Bridge 359m
Living root bridges
Longest bridges overall
Longest above water
Diaspora and colonial past:
Colonial mixed Indians: Anglo-Indians
China Town in Kolkatta Tiretta Bazaar
French India: Pondicherry , Karaikal , Yanaon , Mahe , Chandigarh city designed by Le Corbusier
Korean India , Memorial of Heo Hwang-ok
Portuguese India: Goa , Daman and Diu
Tibet in India Dharamshala , Majnu-ka-tilla in Delhi
Switzerland of India Auli , Barot , Gulmarg , Kausani , Khajjiar , Manipur
Venice of India Alappuzha
Festivals of Indian-origin religions :
Indian religious fairs: Melās
Annual rural olympic of India: Qila Raipur Sports Festival
Festival of ancient LGBT rituals: Koovagam temple festival
Festival of bull running: Jallikattu
Festival of cannabis: Ambubachi Mela , Hola Mohalla , Holi , Maha Shivaratri
Festival of colors: Holi
Festival of colorful: Lathmar Holi
Festival of dance: Garba
Festival of divine knowledge: Gita Mahotsav
Festival of girl child worship: Kanya Puja
Festival of human pyramids: Dahi Handi
Festival of indus river: Sindhu Darshan Festival
Festival of kite flying: Uttarayana
Festival of knowledge ad arts worship: Saraswati pouja
Festival of lights: Diwali
Festival of siblings: Raksha Bandhan
Festival of snake boat races: Vallam kali
National festivals: Official religious holidays in India
World's largest event and fair with 50 million attendees visible from space: Kumbh Mela
Festivals of arts, culture and generic :
Delhi Queer Pride Parade
Desert Festival of sand dunes
Northeast India international travel fair
Rann Utsav festival of white salt desert
Surajkund International crafts fair
Food tourism :
Cuisine by states
Tea estate tourism , Munnar , Darjeeling , Kalimpong
Eat Paan and Panipuri
Drink
Bhang cannabis lassi
Desi daru
Indian whisky
Indian beer
Lion beer asia's first beer brand
Old Monk rum
"Solan No.1" Indian's first single malt
Kasauli Brewery the oldest brewery of India
Geological heritage sites
Magnetic hills in India
Caves of Meghalaya
Ghat Roads
Himalayas
Western Ghats
Tallest mountains
Historical and Archaeological :
Archaeological sites
Archaeoastronomical sites
Ashoka pillars
Bhimbetka
Cave temples
Cave paintings
Colossal in situ sculptures
Dolmens
Forts
Fossil
Havelis
India Gate
IVC sites
Menhirs
Monuments
Museums
National heritage sites
Rrock-cut temples
World heritage sites
Stepwells
Nature :
Beaches
Caves
Caves of Maharashtra
Coral reefs
Caves of Meghalaya
Hill stations
Highest points of each state
Islands
Floating islands of Loktak :ale
Floating island of Prashar Lake
Lakes
Chilika Lake
Roopkund lake of skeletons
Floating islands of Loktak :ale
Floating island of Prashar Lake
Mountains
Rice terraces of Himalayas
Scenic Ghat roads
Waterfalls
Wildlife
National parks
Protected areas
Sacred groves of India
Largest tree span of the world
Railway :
Aerial tramways
Luxury trains
UNESCO Heritage Mountain railways
UNESCO Heritage Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Matheran Hill Railway
Religions of Indian-origin : Buddhism , Hinduism , Jainism , Sikism
Indian-origin religions festivals : Hindu festivals , Buddhist festivals , Jain festivals , Sikh festivals
Indic-religion's pilgrim yatras :
Parikrama pilgrim circuits
Pilgrimage sites
Sacred ghats
Sacred girl child as living goddesses
Sacred groves
Sacred mountains
Sacred rivers
Sacred trees
Golden Temple
Varanasi oldest continuously inhabited city of oldest continuously practiced religion: Hinduism
Akhara
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Manikarnika Ghat cremation pyres
Naga sadhus
Religions of foreign-origin - prosecuted in country of origin with their largest population In India:
Novelty:
Bamyan Buddha statues of India in Kargil Maitreya Buddhas
Cannabis valley visit: Malana valley
Double-decker dual-span living aerial root traffic bridges
Experience Hindu wedding
Floating islands of Loktak Lake and Prashar Lake
Grand Canyon of India at Gandikota
Haunted ruined city of Kuldhara
Haunted and wild leopards's den of Bhangarh Fort
Largest tree spans of world: Banyan trees
Niagara Falls of India at Chitrakote Falls
Ride around a Royal Enfield bike
Run world's highest race: Ladakh Marathon
Run world's largest Valley of Flowers
Scotland of India at Coorg
Temple for 25000 rats at Karni Mata Temple
Temple of hanging pillars: Ancient Veerabhadra Temple
Speciality:
Aerial tramways
Atomic tourism and Pokhran
Ayurvedic tourism
Golden Triangle
Houseboats
Medical tourism
New7Wonders
Sex tourism
Yoga tourism
Statues:
Equestrian
Most famous
Tallest
Tallest buildings:
Buildings
Structures
Kalisindh Thermal Power Station 202 m
Statue of Unity 182 m
Gopuram 76 m
Tallest towers
Rameswaram TV Tower 323 m
Jaisalmer TV Tower 300 m
Samatra TV Tower 300 m
Pitampura TV Tower 235 m
Katanga TV Tower 225 m
Organisations See also
Incredible India
Overseas Indian diaspora
Visa policy of India
show Geography of India
Geology
Fossil Parks
Geology of India
Indian Plate
Heritage
National Geological Monuments of India
Sacred groves of India
Sacred mountains of India
Sacred rivers of India
Stones of India
Landforms Regions
North India
Northeast India
East India
South India
West India
Central India
Subdivisions
States and territories
Autonomous areas
Divisions
Districts
Cities
Towns
Municipalities
Environment and climate
Biogeographic classification
Ecoregions
Biospheres
Fauna
Flora
Forests
Issues
Protected Areas
Wildlife
See also
National monuments of India
National parks of India
Nature worship in Indian-origin religions
World Heritage Sites in India
Climate of India
Culture of India
Environment of India
History of India
Tourism in India
show Geography of India by state or territory
States
Andhra Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Assam
Bihar
Chhattisgarh
Goa
Gujarat
Haryana
Himachal Pradesh
Jharkhand
Karnataka
Kerala
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Manipur
Meghalaya
Mizoram
Nagaland
Odisha
Punjab
Rajasthan
Sikkim
Tamil Nadu
Telangana
Tripura
Uttar Pradesh
Uttarakhand
West Bengal
Union territories
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Chandigarh
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
Delhi
Jammu and Kashmir
Ladakh
Lakshadweep
Puducherry
show Monuments in India
National Importance
State Protected
See also
National Geological Monuments of India
National parks of India
World Heritage Sites in India
Culture of India
History of India
Tourism in India
show World Heritage Sites in India
North East
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Mahabodhi Temple Complex
Nalanda
Sun Temple at Konark
Sundarbans National Park
Northeast
Kaziranga National Park
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Khangchendzonga National Park
South
Great Living Chola Temples
Group of Monuments at Hampi
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Ramappa Temple
Western Ghats
Central
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
Khajuraho Group of Monuments
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi
West
Historic City of Ahmadabad
Ajanta Caves
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Churches and convents of Goa
Dholavira
Elephanta Caves
Ellora Caves
Hill Forts of Rajasthan
Chittor Fort
Kumbhalgarh
Ranthambore Fort
Gagron Fort
Amer Fort
Jaisalmer Fort
Jaipur
Jantar Mantar of Jaipur
Rani ki vav
Western Ghats
Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai
See also
National Geological Monuments of India
National monuments of India
National parks of India
Culture of India
History of India
Tourism in India