Sonowal, Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurate Ambubachi Mela in Guwahati

“Devotees from around the country and the world receive Maa Kamakhya’s blessings during Ambubachi Mela and the power of these blessings enables them to contribute meaningfully to sustain an environment of peace and harmony in the world,” Sonowal said while speaking at the inaugural programme of Ambubachi Mela 2019 at Sonaram High School Field in the capital city of Assam.

Saying that Ambubachi Mela provided an opportunity to welcome tourists and devotees from different parts of the country as well as the world, Sonowal informed that all efforts had been taken to sustain the success of last three years’ in organising the Mela on a grand scale.

Urging the people of Guwahati to play the role of hosts like the previous years to make this year’s Ambubachi Mela a grand success, the chief minister said that it was every citizen’s moral obligation to make the visitors feel welcome in the state and enable them to take back good memories of Assam with them.

Union Minister of State (Independent) for Tourism and Culture Prahlad Singh Patel said that he was fortunate to get the opportunity to attend Ambubachi Mela as the first programme after assuming office and he stressed on the need to explore more prospects for developing tourism in the state taking advantage of vast natural resources.

Chairman of Assam Tourism Development Board Jayanta Malla Barua, Bordoloi of Kamakhya Devalaya Mohit Sarma and other spiritual gurus also spoke at the programme where Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup Metro Biswajit Pegu gave the welcome address. Tourism Minister Chandan Brahma, Education Minister Siddhartah Bhattacharya, Water Resource Minister Keshab Mahanta, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Rameswar Teli, Media Adviser to CM Hrishikesh Goswami were also present among the other dignitaries. 

The four-day long Ambubachi Mela- a biggest Hindu religious event will be held at Kamakhya temple situated atop the Nilachal hill.

The door of the historic temple will remain close at 1-40 am on June 22 and the door to be reopened on June 26.

The Ambubachi Mela is celebrated every year at Kamakhya temple and it is believed that Maa Kamakhya goes through her annual cycle of menstruation during this time stretch.

It is believed that the Mother Earth becomes unclean for three days and during this time any kind of farming work is not taken on.

Daily worships and other religious performances are also stopped during the Ambubachi Mela.

Meanwhile, tight security arrangements have been made in Guwahati for the biggest religious festival.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)