Kamakhya Temple door closes for Ambubanchi Mela

The main door of the famed Kamakhya Temple here closed for four days from today with devotees from across the country and abroad thronging the sacred seat of 'Shakti' cult atop the Nilachal Hills on the occasion of the annual Ambubachi Mela.
The temple will remain closed for devotees till June 25 and will reopen on the morning of June 26, Kabinath Sarmah of Kamakhya Parichalana Samiti said.
More than 25 lakh devotees are expected to throng the seat of Shakti cult during the Mela which the newly elected BJP government in Assam was projecting as the 'Mini-Kumbh'.
According to myths and legend, the Ambubachi Mela marks the fertility cycle of Goddess Kamakhya who is also revered as the deity of procreation.

Assam Governor P B Acharya today greeted the pilgrims on the occasion of the Mela and appealed to the temple management, concerned government departments and all other participating organisations to ensuring smooth conduct of the holy occasion.
He also appealed to all pilgrims and tourists to maintain peace, order and discipline during all the days of the festival and ensure that the temple premises and the surrounding areas are kept clean.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has directed the concerned authorities to make elaborate arrangement to ensure the comfort of devotees and tourists visiting the temple during the four-day festival.
Sonowal also directed the officials to ensure that utmost cleanliness was maintained on the temple premises and its surrounding areas.

"We are expecting over 25 lakh footfalls, and thus have drawn up a foolproof plan to help the temple authorities organize the mela in the most flawless manner," Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner M Angamuthu said.
The Kamrup(Metro) district administration has made
elaborate arrangement to ensure smooth conduct of the mela and five pilgrim camps with basic facilities of shelter, baths, toilets, drinking water etc have been set up in and around the temple premises for the devotees.
The state tourism department has mounted a massive campaign to showcase the Ambubachi Mela as a major attraction for pilgrims as well as other visitors from across the country.

A large number of medical and first aid teams, apart from dozens of food safety officers, public health volunteers and over 3,000 police personnel have also been deployed.
Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) has also deployed 80 new buses to transport pilgrims from the foothills to the main temple area - a distance of about three km up the Nilachal Hills.
Authorities have also banned plying of private vehicles up the Nilachal Hills during from yesterday and parking arrangements have been made in areas below the Nilachal hills.
The entire Nilachal Hill has been declared tobacco and plastic free zone.