When 'Satikatha' scripted with hammer and chisel

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 21: Around ten lakh devotees, who have arrived in Guwahati for the Ambubachi Mela slated from June 22, are fortute enough to see Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and all events related Sati at a single building in the city.

Kamakhya Peeth is the centre of attraction for tiol and intertiol devotees with the Ambubachi Mela beginning tomorrow and continue till June 26. Sculptor Dipu Kalita, a local youth, is busy with his sculptural works vividly depicting Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, and all events connected to Devi Parvati in the Temple Museum. He scripted the pictorial tale of Sati (Satikatha) - like Shiva going round the universe (Brahmanda Bhraman) taking Sati on his shoulder, elephants, lions and lotus etc. -  at the museum so as to eble the devotees to have the taste of all the events at one point. The museum is also full of bamboo-made skes, dragons, Devi Durga, Devi Kamakhya and various other sculptures.

Dipu Kalita was first engaged as a security guard when he was reading in Class VII. However, after his talent as a sculptor was revealed, he was given appointment as a caretaker in the museum of the temple.

Dipu was attracted to sculpture when he was in Class VII. Without any formal education on sculpture he started the art with a hammer and a chisel so as to translate his dream into reality.         

Meanwhile, the Kamrup (M) district administration has chalked out a plan for the Ambubachi Mela.

The entire area of the mela, including the rest camps, has been divided into five zones, each zone to be looked after by a government official. While Zone 1 ranges from the Kamakhya entry point to entire Neelachal Hill, Zone 2 ranges from Kamakhya foothill to Bharalu, Zone 3 is from Kamakhya foothill to Maligaon Tiniali, Zone 4 is from Maligaon to Pandu Devalaya and Zone 5 is from Maligaon Tiniali to Jalukbari point.  

The in-charge of each zone has to ensure uninterrupted power supply, sufficient lighting, supply of drinking water, toilets, safaikarmis, crowd and vehicular traffic magement, and maintence of cleanliness and hygiene.

While the entire area has been declared a no-plastic zone, the area from Bharalumukh to Jalaukbari has been declared dry zone on June 25 and 26.

This year around, all pilgrims are be registered at the time of their entry into the Mela.