Assam: COVID prompts congregation ban during Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya
“Only the rituals related to the occasion will be performed at the temple during the mela which is scheduled from June 22, a statement issued by the Kamakhya Devalaya Management Committee here on Friday informed.
From Our Correspondent
GUWAHATI:
For the second consecutive year, the annual Ambubachi Mela at the historic Kamakhya Temple atop Nilachal Hills here will not have any congregation of devotees, sadhus and tourists keeping in mind the COVID-19 situation and as a preventive measure against the spread of the virus.
“Only the rituals related to the occasion will be performed at the temple during the mela which is scheduled from June 22, a statement issued by the Kamakhya Devalaya Management Committee here on Friday informed.
As it is, the Devalaya authorities have decided to keep the doors of the temple closed till June 30, 2021, despite the Centre’s recent announcement that all religious places across the country would be allowed to open from June 8.
Kamakhya Temple is one of the 51 shaktipeeths in the country.
In normal circumstances, lakhs of devotees, sadhus and tourists from across the country and world annually converge at the Mela during which worship is stopped and temple doors closed as the Mother Goddess is believed to undergo her annual menstrual cycle during the period.
Last year, the doors of the temple were closed for devotees on March 20 as a preventive measure against the pandemic, ahead of the national lockdown on March 25.
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