Kamakhya temple closes for four days for Ambubachi Mela

Guwahati, June 22 (PTI) Lakhs of pilgrims from across the
country and abroad have congregated at the famous Kamakhya
temple in the capital city of the northeastern state of Assam
even as its doors were closed from Monday for four days on the
occasion of Ambubachi Mela.

The temple doors are closed every year during this month
as according to legend, Goddess Kamakhya is said to be having
her periods.

No prayers are offered to her during these four days,
member of Kamakhya Debottur Board Nabakanta Sarma said.

The temple doors would reopen on June 26 when senior
priest Tarini Prasad Sarma will offer the first prayers to the
deity following which pilgrims can enter the sanctum sanctorum
to offer prayers and will be given a piece of red cloth as a
sacred symbol of the goddess.

More than a lakh pilgrims from different parts of the
country and abroad have arrived at the Shakti temple for the
four-day mela with the Kamrup (Metro) administration taking
several measures to ensure that the occasion passes off
without any disturbance.

Security has been tightened at the Kamakhya temple and
its adjoining areas with closed circuit cameras installed in
the premises to keep a close watch on all pilgrims and
visitors, official sources said. PTI DG
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