Ambubachi Mela gets underway, Kamakhya temple in Guwahati

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 22, 2024

The Ambubachi Mela, an annual festival to honour the menstrual cycle of Goddess Kamakhya, got underway at Kamakhya Temple at Nilachal Hill in Assam’s main city Guwahati on Saturday.

The door of the temple was closed at 8.43 am on Saturday with the start of ‘prabritti’ for the next four days coinciding with the ritualistic annual menstrual cycle of the goddess.

The worship will resume at 9.07 pm on June 25 after ‘nribritti’.

The temple door will open for darshan on June 26 after a ritualistic bath and daily puja.

Lakhs of devotees are coming to attend the mela and wait for the “darshana” of the goddess after the ‘nribitti’ on June 25.

Devotees from different parts of the country and abroad converge at the annual mela, which is held in the temple premises during the period.

In a post on X Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the devotees to the mela.

“On the occasion of Ambubachi Mela, I welcome the sandhus and devotees,” he wrote,” Sarma said.

The Ambubachi Mela was officially formally inaugurated by state tourism minister Jayant Mallabarua at a function held at Pandu Port on Saturday evening.

The state tourism department has been organizing the inaugural ceremony since 2012 in collaboration with the Kamrup Metro district administration and other departments.

In his address, Baruah said: “The Ambubachi Mela is currently attracting millions of devotees due to the national and international publicity and promotion, which is a positive development for the religious tourism sector.”

The minister also mentioned the role of the Dalai (priest) community, the district administration and the voluntary organizations in running the fair.

The minister urged all devotees to follow the policies and regulations adopted for the smooth celebration of the Ambubachi Mela.

He said that every year, two temporary shelters (camps) have been arranged at Kamakhya railway station and Pandu port for the convenience of the devotees of the temple.

The main road leading to Kamakhya Temple will be closed from 8 pm and the road from Pandu Road to the top of Kamakhya Hill will be closed from 9 pm.

The minister also mentioned ferry services and restrictions on shuttle services and vehicles on Kamakhya Main Road. Referring to the understanding of health services in conducting the fair smoothly,  the minister said that health camps have been set up in all the camps, both roads from the foothills of Kamakhya Hills to the top of Kamakhya Hills and mini ambulance services have been arranged.

The event was attended by the Kamakhya Temple’s Bar Dalai (high priest) Kabindra Nath Sharma, Small Dalai (young priest) Himadri Sharma, tourism secretary Kumar Padmapani Bora, director Ranuj Barkakati, Kamrup Metro district Commissioner Sumit Sattawa and other top officials of the state government.

Later speaking to the media the minister said the works of the Kamakhya Corridor Project will start after the conclusion of the Ambubachi Mela.

“The tender has been settled and the work order is issued. So work will start after the mela. The people involved in running the temple are not opposing the project. But some people with vested interests are opposing it. It will be settled,” the minister said.

Arrangements have been made by the Kamrup Metropolitan district administration and other agencies for the smooth conduct of the Mela, an official statement of Kamrup Metro district administration said.

Camping facilities for 5,000 persons have been set up at the Kamakhya railway station and for 12,000-15,000 people at the main holding area in Pandu port.

Provision for VIP passes has been stopped for the time being, while the road leading to the main temple has been closed for all vehicles except emergency and utility vehicles.

Strict regulations for food and water distribution to visitors by institutions have been issued, with no arbitrary distribution to be allowed, the statement said.

Provisions for toilets, street lights, health camps and barricades on roads at certain locations have been made, it added.