At Kamakhya temple annual Ambubachi Mela begins

Guwahati: The annual Ambubachi Mela at Assam’s famous Kamakhya temple on top of Nilachal Hill in Guwahati will begin from Thursday amid tight security and other arrangements, officials said.
He said that the Kamrup Metropolitan District Civil and Police authorities have completed all preparations for the smooth conduct of the event, which attracts lakhs of devotees and pilgrims.
The door of the temple will be closed and all worship will be stopped from ‘Pravritti’ on the intervening night of June 22-23.

Devotees will be allowed to return to the temple from the morning of June 26 after the ‘Nivriti’.
The temple doors remain closed, marking the belief that Goddess Kamakhya’s annual menstruation occurs during this period.

The Ambubachi Mela is held in the temple premises during this period and is a major tourist event in the state, attracting around 2.5 lakh people during the festival.
Kamrup Metropolitan Deputy Commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha and Guwahati Police Commissioner Diganta Barah said here on Tuesday that three temporary camps have been set up at Pandu Port, Kamakhya Railway Station and Sonaram Higher Secondary School grounds to accommodate the devotees.
Adequate police security has been arranged in the camps, in and around Nilachal hill, he said in a joint press conference.

He said that the entry of vehicles on Nilachal Hill has been banned and the time for allowing devotees to enter the temple premises during the festival has also been fixed from 5 am to 9 pm.
Officials said facilities for drinking water, rest sheds and medical booths have been made for the devotees.

He added that apart from police personnel, volunteers, private security guards and others have also been engaged to ensure that the fair is held without any hitches.