And so, the river offers a lifeline and a lifetime of livelihood opportunities. In the upper reaches of Assam, the paddy fields of Dibrugarh in the south bank and Dhemaji in the north bank have produced rice in record quantities that have been possible only due to the swollen Brahmaputra and its massive tributaries coupled with the incessant rains of the monsoon season. Associated fishing activities have made people economically sustainable from the activity besides giving employment to lakhs of citizens. Boat makers have made their livelihoods as also boatmen who have forever ferried people over these waters. Till date, the attraction of Majuli – one of the largest riverine island in the world – has drawn tourists from all over the world and these continue to be ferried from the mainland on boats which have been mechanized in modern times. And then of course there are the chaporis (small temporary islands) that jut out of the river during the winters offering refreshing options of various tourism activities like picnics, bonfire dinners, star gazing activities etc. Towards Guwahati, the chaporis become an exciting destination for various celebrations and get-togethers. Sporting to literary activities have been known to take place on the pristine sandy shores of these chaporis and the ambience on them are often customized to suit the mood of the occasion. Tour operators have survived and thrived because the regal river flows through the state. In Guwahati, private ship and cruise operators have given once-in-a-lifetime tour experiences to visitors with their luxurious river ships offering guests the chance to experience Assam’s opulence along the river. But these are things that have been happening already – the current scenario that is.