Assam's Kamakhya temple readies itself for the annual Ambubachi festival
Known as the Mahakumbh of the East, the Ambubachi festival is a major annual festival of the Kamakhya temple that draws lakhs of devotees from different corners of the state and even from abroad.
The Ambubachi festival this year begins on June 22 and will end on June 26. The temple authority will close the main door of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple from June 22 to lock the Mother Goddess in for her annual menstrual period.
The temple will reopen on June 26 morning and the lakhs of devotees will be allowed to visit and worship the mother Goddess. During this period, the Hindus do not worship and farmers do not plough their land.
Assam tourism minister Ranjit Kumar Dass recently reviewed the preparedness of the district administration for the festival with all the departments and said that adequate measures have been taken to ensure the festival is celebrated without creating inconvenience for anyone.
"We have decided certain things this year. There will be no arrangements for VIP passes this year during the Ambubachi festival. Whoever comes to the temple during the festival will be considered a VIP and hence we have decided to do away with the system of VIP passes," said Dass.
He also informed that as per the request of the temple authority, it was decided that the entry to the temple will be restricted after 7 am. "Whoever wants to come to the temple has to enter before 7 am. We are also arranging that everyone will leave the temple after 8.30 pm. This is being done to avoid chaos and ensure that the festival passes of smoothly," he said.
It may be mentioned here that the district administration has already taken steps to put up camps in the Kamakhya temple premises to house the devotees. UNI ANP SSP
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