Mayong village of Assam is synonymous with black magic and is also known as the black magic capital of India. Every kid of Assam has heard the black magic stories of Mayong from various sources. It is part of the common folklore of Assam. The name of Mayong has been mentioned in various literary sources and it has been spread in popular culture as a centre of black magic by movies, shows and social media videos.
My Field Trip To Mayong Village
As a child, I also read many black magic stories of Mayong village, but I dismissed all of it as mere myth and superstition. Who cares about all this stuff in the 21st century? Then, I happened to visit Mayong village in 2021 for solar power project installation in the village. The field visit opened my mind. I was there in the village for almost 15 days. I interacted with locals, and village elders, and visited Mayong museum and all the archaeological inscriptions and ancient temples of the region.
What I realised that there must be some kind of rationale behind this widespread belief in black magic. Further, I learnt that almost all the black magic practitioners talked about ancient ritual of human and animal sacrifice in Mayong. However, in this blog we will discuss only the black magic stories of Mayong narrated by the locals.
Black Magic Stories of Mayong
Here are some anecdotal stories and one-liners about the black magic of Mayong:
The meal that cannot be cooked: In Mayong, a spell is cast upon wooden pegs (used in traditional chulha) used to support cooking pots would mysteriously take root and the meal that was placed on the pot will never be cooked even though continuous fire is supplied to the cooking pot.
The Sticky Seat: A man’s seat sticks to him and does not drop off until the mystic recites counter-incantations.
The Magic tree: A tree stands although cut through in the middle, and a part of it falls only, when the enemy whom the mystic wishes to injure comes near it.
The Deadly Pigeon Dish: The guests were supposed to praise the cooking and eat it with relish. If they did not do so, the cooked meat used to turn into pigeons and fly away.A cooked pigeon when eaten becomes alive inside the stomach, and flapping its wings incessantly kills the man.
The Deadly Rice and Milk: When a man eats rice and milk this is never digested but takes root in the stomach. He dies within six months.
The Leaf that turns into a snake: A rib of a plantain leaf (banana leaf) is turned into a snake. The leaves of the saura tree are turned into Kholiha and Kawoi fishes.
Actual Account of Mayong Black Magic
The following story was told by the caretaker of the museum that is inside the Mayong village:
A government official named Ratan Das (name changed), from Bebejia in Nagaon district, visited Mayong village about fifty-five years ago. He often frequented a neighbor’s house and flirted with the girls there. One day, while chatting and making light remarks about Mayong’s magic, the girls decided to teach him a lesson. As he got up to leave, the chair he was sitting on stuck to him. The girls’ mother, scolding them for their prank, instructed them to undo the magic. One of the girls fetched a bell metal jar of water, enchanted it, and sprinkled it on him and the chair. The chair immediately detached, leaving Ratan Das a firm believer in the magic of Mayong.
The Sugarcane Thief
A bej (practitioner of magic) could steal the juice of sugarcane for making molasses with the help of magic. The juice of sugarcane is boiled in big iron trays known as kuhiar thali. When somebody is boiling sugarcane juice, he also has to boil the juice of only two or three sugarcane in a kuhiar thali and apply mantra to it. Then the juice of sugarcane from the other kuhiar thali will automatically come to his kuhiar thali and he will get a lot of molasses with only two or three sugarcanes. By the same trick resorted to magic and transferred the fish from the beel (lake) to another beel.
Mayong Magic Gone Wrong
A few years ago, the death of a sadhu made headlines in Hojai (Nagaon district). The sadhu had claimed to know a mantra that could make a gun ooze water instead of firing bullets. To prove his magical ability, he asked someone to shoot at him. Tragically, the gun fired normally, killing him instantly, and the incident was widely reported in the news.
Black Magic Elements/Spirits of Mayong
The black magic stories of Mayong is incomplete with the Bira cult. The Bira is a domesticated spirit summoned and controlled by the skilled practitioners of Mayong’s magic. Unlike malevolent spirits that bring harm and chaos, the Bira is benevolent, often called upon for its wisdom and ability to diagnose the real cause of ailments and misfortunes.
When a villager falls ill with an unexplained disease, and conventional treatments fail, the Bira is invoked. The process involves intricate rituals and incantations, performed by a seasoned sorcerer, to summon the Bira into a controlled environment. Once present, the spirit communicates through the sorcerer or directly with those seeking help.
But all these black magic stories of Mayong are things of the past. No evidence of any such magic has been seen by this investigator during the field trips. The informants do believe that such miracles are possible. They even believe that their predecessors did witness such happenings in the past.
Is it Safe to visit Mayong Village Now?
Yes, it is safe to visit Mayong Village now. Mayong, located in the Morigaon district of Assam, India, has transformed into a popular tourist destination. Known for its lush green scenery, picturesque hills, and proximity to the Brahmaputra River, Mayong offers a serene and beautiful environment for visitors.
The village has a historical association with sorcery and black magic, which has added a layer of mystique to its reputation. However, these practices are largely a thing of the past. The local community is welcoming to tourists and enjoys sharing the rich folklore and legends that have made Mayong famous. Visitors can expect a hospitable and intriguing experience, blending natural beauty with cultural stories.
For anyone planning a visit, read this travel guide to Mayong village of Assam.
