Thousands throng Bhuban Hills on Sivaratri

Special correspondent

SILCHAR, March 8: On the occasion of Bhuban Mela, an annual festival devoted to Lord Shiva, devotees and worshipers from across the valley who thronged the pilgrimage and have a darshan of Lord Shiva concluded today. On this holy day many pilgrims observed fast. The devotees offered their obeisance to Lord Shiva at the famous Shiva temple atop the hills. The Bhuban Hills in the extreme south east of Barak Valley bordering Manipur and Mizoram is a well known centre of pilgrimage. The famous temple of Lord Shiva nestled atop the hills covered with deep forests abound with legends and mysteries.

After a journey of 45–46 km from here by bus and other motor vehicles, the devotees reach the place called Panichouki Punji via Motigar under Dholai constituency of Cachar district and from there to the route towards the famous Shiva temple through the rugged and difficult track. They climb around 4–5 km to reach the shrine. In order to avoid any untoward incident, the police administration imposed guidelines which were unfortutely not strictly followed by the devotees. The police and CRPF personnel were deployed in and around the hills to ensure security of the people.

Several saints and sanyashis have also flocked to the hill from different parts of the country on the occasion. A fair med Bhuban Mela goes on every year at the foothills. A few NGOs arranged drinking water, food and medicine for the devotees on the route to Bhuban Hills. The PWD Department sprayed water on the road to control dust. Soi primary health centre set up a stall there to give basic medical facility to the devotees if they fell ill. In order to curb the consumption of alcohol and other intoxicated substance at the top of the hill, the excise department was alert.

 Popular myth about the Bhuban Hill is that in ancient times, the hill abounded with images of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Subsequently, gas began to settle in the hill, took these Gods and Goddesses to be their ancestors and decided to install them at one place. They tied the images below their waists by long rope and began to drag them whereupon curses befell the gas who were hurtled hither–thither and instantly turned into stones. Nearby at one spot, pilgrims find a raised big stone altar on which sits a ga saint, praying to some deity in pence for atoning the sins of their ancestors.

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