Mayong: A Cultural Landscape in Assam

Abstract

This thesis explores Mayong, a region in Assam, India, renowned for its deep rooted association with magic and mysticism, to analyze its status as a cultural landscape. By examining its geographical features, historical context, and the local community's intangible heritage, the research seeks to demonstrate how Mayong functions as more than just a physical space. Instead, it is a dynamic cultural landscape shaped by centuries of beliefs, rituals, and social practices. The study employs a multidisciplinary approach, combining ethnographic resea rch, historical analysis, and landscape theory, to understand how the natural environment and human activity are intertwined in Mayong. It also explores how the village's association with magic has shaped its spatial identity, influencing land use, settlem ent patterns, and local architecture. Oral traditions, folk practices, and community festivals are analyzed to reveal their role in maintaining and transmitting the region’s cultural values across generations. Through this investigation, the thesis argues that Mayong is a living cultural landscape where the interaction between people and the environment has fostered a unique identity. This analysis contributes to the broader understanding of cultural landscapes and their importance in preserving intangible heritage and fostering cultural continuity in rural settings like Mayong.