Devotees Weary After Long Wait Pelt Stones At Kamakhya’s Waiting Room Gate

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Thousands of devotees of Shaktipeeth Kamakhya were seen queuing outside the devalaya to pay obeisance to the deity during the Durga Puja festivities. However, devotees appeared frustrated when even after waiting for hours they were unable to make it inside. This resulted in a slight agitation as angry devotees physically demonstrated their disappointment.

The line of devotees became endless on Mahashtami. According to its fixed rules, the temple management found shut the gates of the waiting room at 4 pm, which resulted in a large number of devotees having to go back. Most of these people had been waiting for more than twelve hours but the crowd was in such large numbers that it would not have been possible to accommodate them inside even if they allowed entry the whole night. After this, the crowd of disgusted devotees became furious. Intent on breaking the iron gate of the waiting room, the fierce mob started pelting stones, completely overcome by desperation.

The temple management tried to subdue the crowd, however, the angry mob, frustrated after waiting for hours, could not be calmed. The temple management then informed the police.

The temple management, cautious after the Mahashtami incident, accepted people only till 2 pm on Mahanavami. The visitors standing in the queue alleged that while some people could not pay darshan even after being hungry and thirsty since morning, a group of pilgrims made room for themselves in the queue by taking advantage of the chaos between 12 pm and 2 am.

Most disappointed in the entire fiasco were the devotees from outside the State. Significantly, these days, special ticket and VIP pass of Rs 500 were declared closed. However, according to eyewitnesses, certain VIPs had no problem in paying darshan, beating the common folk waiting for more than twelve hours, still standing even after the doors were closed.

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