Kamakhya expected to host 25 lakh devotees during Ambubachi Mela

GUWAHATI: Assam is gearing up for the largest religious congregation in the state as an estimated 25 lakh people are expected to attend the four-day annual Ambubachi Mela starting at the Kamakhya Temple from June 22.
Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) chairman Jayanta Malla Baruah on Wednesday said 20 lakh people came to the Ambubachi Mela last year. "Last year's headcount was done through a laser-based technology for accuracy.This year, an estimated 25 lakh devotees are expected," said Baruah.
Union minister of state for tourism Prahalad Singh Patel will inaugurate the religious event on June 21 and singer Kailash Kher will perform at a cultural programme the same temple. Kamakhya is one of the 51 shakti shrines representing different body parts of Shiva's consort Sati. During the four-day event from June 22 to June 25, the temple door remains closed. It is believed that the presiding goddess of the temple, Devi Kamakhya, goes through her annual cycle of menstruation during the festival.
As a huge large turnout of devotees is nexpected, Baruah said capacity for sheltering pilgrims at the makeshift camps has been increased by 20% this time. "This time, instead of erecting large number of makeshift camps for devotees, we have decided to keep the number to only four. All the four camps will have 20% more capacity for accommodating devotees. The four camps will be at Fancy Bazar, Old Pandu railway station, Boripara and Naherbari at the Kamakhya Temple. There will be information centres at the Kamakhya railway junction to help devotees in guiding them to different camps," said Baruah.
He added that the tourism department has urged the railways to provide special trains from Varanasi and Kolkata to Kamakhya. The tourism department has been promoting the Ambubachi Mela as a religious tourism destination in the state.
"Our publicity campaign is underway in different states and cities across the country. At the same time we have taken steps to promote other religious sites along with the Ambubachi Mela. There will be dedicated ferry services for devotees to visit the Umananda Temple located at a rock island in the middle of the Brahmaputra here," said Baruah.
He added that various departments, including the Guwahati Municipal Corporation, public works department and the district administration are working in tandem to conduct the event smoothly.