PM prays at Kamakhaya temple on first day of Navratri

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today offered prayers to Goddess Kamakhaya Devi here and said it was his 'good fortune' that he could do it on the occasion of Navratri.
Modi, who came to Guwahati from Delhi last night, drove up to the base of the famed temple at Nilachal Hill this morning and walked up the flight of steps to the shrine to offer prayers inside the sanctum sanctorum.
Before resuming his poll campaigns in Assam, the Prime Minister performed puja on the first day of Navratri at the Shakti Pith dedicated to Goddess Durga and her various incarnations, temple officials said.

Modi, who visited the temple for the first time, then went towards the people waiting for him, shook hands with them and left for his campaigning for the second and final phase of elections on April 11 in 61 constituencies of the state.
Later, addressing poll meetings at Roha, Rangia, Sorbhog, Modi said, the whole country is "engaged in 'shakti sadhana' and it is my good fortune that on this holy day, I was able to offer my prayers to Ma Kamakhya."
"Navratri is devoted to 'devi upasana'. It is mentioned in the Puranas that it is difficult to find the Devi in most places, but in Kamrup (as Assam is referred to in the Puranas) it is to be found in every home," he said.

On the pious occasion of Navratri, "I take the opportunity to offer my humble respects to all women in every home of Assam," he said.

Speaking in Assamese, the Prime Minister said he "bows his head before aie (mother), bai (elder sister) and bhoni (younger sister) of the state".
Wishing people on the Rongali Bihu festival in the state that falls next week, Modi urged them to ensure that a new government is formed in the Assamese New Year.
He quoted a song of legendary singer the late Bhupen Hazarika where Bihu is referred to as not only the advent of the new year but also that of an age of hope and aspiration.