GUWAHATI: Come Diwali and Assam’s famed Kamakhya Temple, one of the country’s shakti piths, will glitter in gold. Literally.
In what many here call a “Diwali gift”, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), will decorate the dome of the shakti shrine with 19 kilograms of gold.
Currently, artisans from Mumbai are working overtime to meet the deadline. “RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani has taken a special interest in the project. Gold leafing of three bigger “kalash” around the dome is currently on. RIL’s jewellery division has been assigned to carry out the project,” an RIL source here said on Thursday.
“The gold leafing work of the dome is at an advanced stage. With the blessings of Maa Kamakhya, we hope to finish the task in the next two weeks,” the insider said.
“Atop the main structure of the temple, situated on Nilachal hills here, a copper-framed design has been prepared and golf leafing on it is going on,” he added.
“The makeover of the temple with gold will make it more attractive,” Mohit Chandra Sarma, doloi (head) of the Kamakhya Temple Trust Board, said.
“The temple was reopened recently after many months because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Devotees will see something grand when they come here to offer their prayers. We expect a rise in the number of visitors because of the makeover,” he said.
Work on decorating the dome began soon after the board received a proposal from RIL in September. “Himanta Biswa Sarma (state minister for health) who is an ardent follower of Maa Kamakhya, played a key role in drawing Ambani’s attention to the beautification of the temple,” a temple source said.
Though RIL insiders did not wish to divulge the cost of the project, market estimates suggested an investment of more than Rs 10 crore.