Annual Ambubachi mela begins amidst tight security

Guwahati, Jun 22: The five day long Ambubachi mela begins today atop the Neelachal hills and on the forecourt of the legendary Kamkhya temple, amidst stringent security.

''More than two lakh devotees already arrived and we are expecting another three lakhs. If the weather remains good than we expect another one to two lakh of local devotees'' said the temple trust secretary Navakanta Sharma.

The main gates of the temples were closed today for the ''annual period of mother Goddess Kamkhya'' and will be re-opened on the morning of Monday next, when the maximum crowd will flock in.

The temple trust officials have been facing aa harrowing time maintaining public hygiene and the district authorities have placed special sewerage clearing machines as well as drinking water facility for the continuous streaming of devotees.

''Almost eighty per cent of devotees come from Bengal and Bihar while Sadhus come from Himalayas,'' said Mr Sharma. The Sadhus could be seen all over the temple forecourt in different postures posing willingly for the media.

Meanwhile, security forces sealed entry of vehicles to the top of the hills as a precautionary measure and all movements of devotees were done through ferry services introduced temporarily.

The police is screening every visitor as according to high police official sources, Kamkhya temple should be high on the agenda for the ULFA to strike.

UNI