Preparations made for Ambubashi mela

Guwahati, June 17 : All preparations have been made for the annual five-day Ambubashi mela at the Kamakhya temple, which commence from June 22.

The mela sees the convergence of tantriks, yogis and devout Hindus from across the world to this Shaktipeeth of Goddess Durga, situated atop the Nilachal Hills in the city.

Assam Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (ATDC) director Dilip Kumar Baruah informed that they have completed all preparations.

''We have opened special cells to cater to the devotees.

Accommodation facilities at the mela site and conveyance have also been taken care'' of.

Besides special buses being provided by the ATDC during the mela period, the Kamrup district administration has also arranged for buses and trekkers. Special pass has been provided to the vehicles, which would carry the devotees to avoid traffic congestion during the time.

Mr Baruah said special information cells have been set up at the Kamakhya railway station and the inter-state bus depot at Paltan Bazar. The permanent information cells at the Guwahati railway station and the Borjhar airport would be functioning as usual, he added.

The ATDC director further said a Yatri Nivas has been constructed and was ready for inauguration at Kamakhya temple with separate rooms as well as dormitory facilities. The temple already has a permanent information centre of the ATDC. Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner Avinash Joshi, in a meeting recently, directed the Guwahati Municipal Corporation, the state electricity board and the Public Health and Engineering department to make adequate sanitation, drinking water and electricity facilities during the mela.

Steps were also being taken to check possible malaria outbreak during the mela following the recent spread of the disease in the state.

The district administration has stepped up security near the temple following the recent spate of violence in the state.

The ATDC director maintained that insurgency has not kept away devotees from attending the Ambubashi mela.

He said, ''Those who attend the mela are not mere tourists who can be deterred by insurgency threats. They are true devotees of the Goddess and will come here whatever the situation be.'' Mr Baruah informed that over three lakh devotees had attended last year's mela and they were preparing to receive more this year.

With the state tourism sector getting a boost over the last few years, the Ambubashi mela is also gaining popularity as a tourist attraction, besides being a spiritual event.

UNI