Guwahati: No Ambubachi mela at Kamakhya temple for 2nd year

GUWAHATI: For the second time in a row, the Ambubachi mela at Kamakhya temple in Guwahati has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The festival was to start on June 22.
Ambubachi is celebrated to mark the annual menstruation of the presiding Goddess at Kamakhya, when over 25 lakh devotees from across the country visit the temple. Kamakhya is one of 51 Shakti Peethas or holy sites for the followers of the Shakti cult, each representing a body part of the Sati, Lord Shiva’s consort. The temple’s sanctum sanctorum houses the yoni – female genital – symbolised by a rock.
Chief priest (Bor-Doloi) of the temple, Mohit Chandra Sarma, told TOI, “Tough times call for tough decisions. We have decided not to organise the annual mela in view of the possibility of further spread of the virus. Even if the government issues an SOP for organizing the mela, we will stick to our decision. Though the situation is improving, we do not want to take any risk.”
Saying that only rituals would be performed inside the temple, he said, “We have decided to keep the temple closed till June 30. It would not be possible for us to restrict or control devotees if they gather inside the premises after any fresh SOP is issued for organizing the mela,” he added.
The priest further said, “The people of Nilachal hills are dependent on the devotees for their livelihood. Their income would suffer if the festival is not held for two back to back years. But the decision has been taken for the greater interest of the people.”