No Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya Temple this year due to COVID-19 outbreak:

Guwahati, April 23: For the first time in its history, the Ambubachi Mela at the historical Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati has been called off this year due to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the temple management authority.

The Kamakhya Temple management authority said that, however the customary rituals will be continued.

Kamakhya Temple located atop of Nilachal Hills is one of 51 Shaktipeeths in the country.

The Ambubachi Mela is an annual Hindu Mela (fair) held at Kamakhya Temple and it is the celebration of the yearly menstruation course of goddess Maa Kamakhya.

Kabindra Prasad Sarma – a senior temple priest said that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the temple management authority has decided not to hold this year Ambubachi Mela, but the customary rituals will be performed in-house by maintaining social distancing norms.

“Lakh of devotees, pilgrims have taken part in the Ambubachi Mela every year. In the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the temple management authority has decided not to this year Ambubachi Mela with the pilgrims. The priests of the temple will perform rituals in-house during the festival period,” Kabindra Prasad Sarma said.

As a precautionary measure to check the spread of the deadly novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Kamakhya temple management authority had shut doors of the temple for devotees from March 20.

The Ambubachi Mela started from June 22 every year at Kamakhya Temple.