Guwahati, the annual Ambubachi Mela at the Kamakhya temple atop the Nilachal hills in Assam's Guwahati began on Saturday and the worship stopped for the next four days, coinciding with the annual ritual menstrual cycle of the goddess.
Thousands of devotees attend the mela and wait for the resumption of worship and pay homage to the goddess.
Temple authorities said the doors were closed at 8.43 am with the start of 'prabritti' and the worship will resume at 9.07 pm on June 25 after 'nribritti'.
On June 26, the temple gate will be opened for darshan after a ritual bath and daily puja, they said.
Worship is suspended and the temple doors are closed for four days a year, when it is believed that the goddess goes through her menstrual cycle.
Devotees from different parts of the country and abroad converge at the annual mela, which is held on the temple premises during this period.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X in Hindi, welcomed the devotees to the mela.
"On the occasion of Ambubachi Mela, I welcome the sandhus and devotees," he wrote.
The Kamrup Metropolitan district administration and other agencies have made arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Mela, an official statement said.
Camping facilities for 5,000 people have been set up at Kamakhya railway station and for 12,000 to 15,000 people at the main waiting area at Pandu port.
The provision of VIP passes has been suspended for the time being, while the road leading to the main temple has been closed to all vehicles except emergency and utility vehicles.
Strict regulations have been issued for the distribution of food and water to visitors by institutions, with no arbitrary distribution permitted, the statement said.
Arrangements have been made for toilets, street lights, health camps and road barricades at certain places, he added.
Thousands of devotees attend the mela and wait for the resumption of worship and pay homage to the goddess.
Temple authorities said the doors were closed at 8.43 am with the start of 'prabritti' and the worship will resume at 9.07 pm on June 25 after 'nribritti'.
On June 26, the temple gate will be opened for darshan after a ritual bath and daily puja, they said.
Worship is suspended and the temple doors are closed for four days a year, when it is believed that the goddess goes through her menstrual cycle.
Devotees from different parts of the country and abroad converge at the annual mela, which is held on the temple premises during this period.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X in Hindi, welcomed the devotees to the mela.
"On the occasion of Ambubachi Mela, I welcome the sandhus and devotees," he wrote.
The Kamrup Metropolitan district administration and other agencies have made arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Mela, an official statement said.
Camping facilities for 5,000 people have been set up at Kamakhya railway station and for 12,000 to 15,000 people at the main waiting area at Pandu port.
The provision of VIP passes has been suspended for the time being, while the road leading to the main temple has been closed to all vehicles except emergency and utility vehicles.
Strict regulations have been issued for the distribution of food and water to visitors by institutions, with no arbitrary distribution permitted, the statement said.
Arrangements have been made for toilets, street lights, health camps and road barricades at certain places, he added.
