The annual Ambubachi Mela, one of eastern India’s leading religious congregations held at Kamakhya Temple atop Nilachal Hills here, has been cancelled because of “threats posed by the Covid-19 pandemic” for the second year running.
The mela is held from June 22 every year but the temple will remain closed till June 30, head of the Maa Kamakhya Devalaya Parichalana Committee Mohit Chandra Sarma told The Telegraph.
The committee decided against holding the four-day mela on Thursday evening even though Covid-19 cases are showing a declining trend in the state.
“Cases are falling but we don’t want to take any chance. We are closed till June 30. It was a tough decision because priests and businesses associated with the temple depend on devotees/visitors. Large gathering could trigger another wave. That is why we decided against the mela in everyone’s interest, because of threats posed by Covid-19. Only the rituals will be held during Ambubachi mahayog from June 22,” Sarma said.
Over 20 lakh visitors/tourists had attended the 2018 mela and about 25 lakh in 2019 from within India and outside but most from Bengal and Bihar. The place hold special significance for Hindus because Kamakhya Temple is one of the 51 shaktipeeths in the country. The temple remains closed during the four-day period because the goddess is believed to undergo her menstrual cycle.
There is a huge rush of devotees, sadhus, tantriks and tourists once the doors open.
Sarma said the temple will be closed till June 30. “Future course of action will depend on the situation. Since there will be no mela, entry of devotees including sadhu and sanyasis is totally prohibited. There will also be no food and lodging facilities at Kamakhya,” he said to dissuade the devotees from thronging the temple.
Assam’s total case load was 50,534 till Thursday, the surge starting in April, attributed mainly to the huge gathering during the Assembly polls. The day saw detection of 4,309 cases and 49 deaths, both falling but it is too early to lower one’s guard, health department officials said.
