Kamakhya temple door to open today

Over 10 lakh pilgrims have visited the temple on occasion of Ambubachi Mela: DC

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, June 25: The door of the famed Kamakhya Temple, seat of the Shakti cult, which has been closed for last three days on the occasion of the annual Ambubachi Mela , will be reopened on Friday at 6 am.

Sadhus and devotees from all over the country and abroad have arrived at the temple atop the Nilachal Hills with the district administration making elaborate arrangements to ensure the mela passes off as planned.

Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner M Angamuthu said over 3.50 lakh devotes have visited the temple from 6 am on Wednesday to 6 am today.  "This year over ten lakh pilgrims have  visited the templeso far  and over 2.5 lakh devotes likely to visit the temple tomorrow," he said in a press conference here today.

 The DC said that the district administration has taken all necessary measures so that devotees can visit the temple without facing any problems.

"The district administration , police administration and Kammakhya Debuttar Board are working together in this regard," he added.

For comfortable stay of pilgrims in Guwahati, all aspects such as cleanliness, distribution of food items, supply of drinking water, power supply, coordition with Railways and medical facilities have been  properly streamlined in association with other agencies, the DC said.

The accommodation for pilgrims has been made at Kamakhya and Pandu railway stations , harbari camp and at the Soram School Field.  "70  buses have been put to use to transport the pilgrims. Over 2000 volunteers and security personnel have been deployed in and around the temple for smooth function of the mela," he added. It may be  mentioned that a  large number of sadhus on Wednesday  staged a protest on the temple premises claiming the Kamrup (metro) district administration was not providing them necessary facilities.

The DC said that the problem has been sorted out after a discussion with Debuttar Board and the sadhus.

"The sadhus were facing some problem regarding water supply. Our officials had a discussion with them and the problem has been sorted out. The situation is under control," he said.

Meanwhile , Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has directed the district administration to take care of all the needs of the devotees relating to accommodation, health and hygiene, sanitation, transportation and communication.

Gogoi has also directed the Tourism Department to facilitate movement of pilgrims to other important place of pilgrimage like Umanda , Sukleswar, Basistha etc.