Asom: Ambubachi mela begins amidst tight security

Guwahati, June 22: The five-day long Ambubachi mela begins today on the forecourt of the legendary Kamkhya temple, amidst stringent security.

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

The entrance of the temple was closed today for the ''annual period of mother Goddess Kamkhya'' and will re-opened on the mext monday morning .

The temple trust officials have been facing a harrowing time maintaining hygiene and the district authorities have placed special sewerage clearing machines and drinking water facility.

''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 for the media.

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

The police is frishing every visitor as according to high police official sources, Kamkhya temple could be at the top of the agenda for the ULFA to strike.

UNI