Ambubanchi Mela from today, Kamakhya Temple door closes

 The main door of the famous Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati will remain closed for four days from today for the devotees, who have travelled from across the country and abroad on the occasion of the annual Ambubachi Mela.

The temple doors will remain closed for devotees till June 25 and will reopen on the morning of June 26, Kabinath Sarmah of Kamakhya Parichalana Samiti said.

More than 25 lakh devotees are expected to throng the sacred seat of 'Shakti' cult atop the Nilachal Hills during the Mela which the newly elected BJP government in Assam was projecting as the 'Mini-Kumbh'.

The Ambubachi Mela marks the fertility cycle of Goddess Kamakhya who is also revered as the deity of procreation, according to myths and legend

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has directed the concerned authorities to make elaborate arrangement to ensure the comfort of devotees and tourists visiting the temple during the four-day festival.

The authorities have already installed over 700 temporary toilets and 400 temporary bathrooms for the large number of pilgrims in and around the temple complex, in addition to more than 400 permanent toilets already existing.

The Kamrup(Metro) district administration has made elaborate arrangement to ensure smooth conduct of the mela and five pilgrim camps with basic facilities of shelter, baths, toilets, drinking water etc have been set up in and around the temple premises for the devotees. The state tourism department has mounted a massive campaign to showcase the Ambubachi Mela as a major attraction for pilgrims as well as other visitors from across the country.

A large number of medical and first aid teams, apart from dozens of food safety officers, public health volunteers and over 3,000 police personnel have also been deployed.

Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) has also deployed 80 new buses to transport pilgrims from the foothills to the main temple area – a distance of about three km up the Nilachal Hills. Authorities have also banned plying of private vehicles up the Nilachal Hills during from yesterday and parking arrangements have been made in areas below the Nilachal hills.The entire Nilachal Hill has been declared tobacco and plastic free zone.

Posted by Dainik Janambhumi