https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Umananda_IslandUmananda Island - Revision history2026-09-25T08:01:27ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Umananda_Island&diff=274199&oldid=prev->UnitedStatesian: Adding local short description: "River island in India", overriding Wikidata description "river island in Assam, northeast India" (Shortdesc helper)2021-09-07T05:02:30Z<p>Adding local <a href="https://en.bharatpedia.org/wiki/Bharatpedia:Short_description" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:Short description">short description</a>: "River island in India", overriding Wikidata description "river island in Assam, northeast India" (<a href="https://en.bharatpedia.org/wiki/Bharatpedia:Shortdesc_helper" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:Shortdesc helper">Shortdesc helper</a>)</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|River island in India}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2017}}<br />
[[File:Umananda Island, Guwahati (4).jpg|thumb|As seen from Umananda Ghat, near Guwahati Highcourt (August 2018)]]<br />
<br />
'''Umananda Island''' is the smallest inhabited river [[islet]] in the middle of [[Brahmaputra River|river Brahmaputra]], flowing through the city of [[Guwahati]] in [[Assam]], a state in northeast [[India]].<br />
<br />
Its name derives from [[Assamese language|Assamese]] ''Uma'', another name for the [[Hindu deities|Hindu goddess]] [[Parvati]], the wife of [[Shiva]]; and ''ananda'', "joy". A [[British Raj|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.<ref name=indiawater/> <br />
<br />
It is visited mostly for its Shiva temple, the [[Umananda Temple]], and is also home to a large population of [[golden langur]]s, an endangered species of primate.<ref name=indiawater>{{cite web | title=Umananda island uncovered | website=India Water Portal | date=14 July 2013 | url=https://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/umananda-island-uncovered | access-date=24 July 2020}}</ref><br />
<br />
The islet can be reached via 10-minute [[ferry]], available from Umananda Ghat, located near Guwahati Highcourt.<br />
<br />
==Mythology==<br />
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").<!---needs source for this detail---><br />
<br />
==History==<br />
In 1897, [[1897 Assam earthquake|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 (deity)|Vaishnavi]] scripts were written on the walls. Craftsmen also carved figures out of rock on the island.{{cn|date=February 2021}}<br />
<br />
==Festivals==<br />
[[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.{{cn|date=February 2021}}<br />
<br />
==Biodiversity==<br />
[[File:Umananda Island, Guwahati (56).jpg|thumb|Island is home Golden Langur]]<br />
Umananda Island was the home to the species of the endangered [[Gee's golden langur|golden langur]], introduced to the island in the 1980s, with the last one dying in 2020.<ref name=hindutimes>{{cite web | first=Utpal |last=Parashar | title=36 years after they were first introduced, Golden Langurs disappear from Umananda Temple | website=[[Hindustan Times]] | date=27 February 2020 | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/more-lifestyle/36-years-after-they-were-first-introduced-golden-langurs-disappear-from-umananda-temple/story-eLdI4jh0mSh8BQz8uazPVN.html | access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref><br />
<br />
The island is dotted with [[tamarind]] trees.{{cn|date=February 2021}}<br />
<br />
==See also ==<br />
<br />
* [[Hindu pilgrimage sites]]<br />
* [[National Geological Monuments of India]]<br />
* [[List of Hindu temples]]<br />
* [[Umananda Temple]]<br />
* [[Tourism in India]]<br />
* [[Yatra]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
{{commons category}}<br />
<br />
{{Coord|26|11|47|N|91|44|42|E|type:isle_region:IN-AS|display=title}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Guwahati]]<br />
[[Category:Islands of the River Brahmaputra]]<br />
[[Category:Landforms of Assam]]<br />
<br />
{{Worship in Hinduism}}<br />
{{Hindudharma}}<br />
{{Assam}}<br />
{{Tourism in India}}<br />
{{Geography of India}}<br />
{{Geography of India by state or territory}}<br />
{{Monuments in India}}<br />
{{World Heritage Sites in India}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites]]<br />
[[Category:Tourism in Assam]]<br />
<br />
{{Assam-geo-stub}}<br />
{{island-stub}}</div>->UnitedStatesian