Devotees arrive at Nilachal Hills for Ambubachi mahayog | Guwahati News

Guwahati: As the Ambubachi Mahayog, the annual spiritual congregation, begins on Sunday, thousands of devotees from across the country have started arriving at the Nilachal Hills, home to the ancient Kamakhya Temple. The four-day festival marks the annual menstruation cycle of the goddess Kamakhya, making it one of the most significant spiritual gatherings in the northeastern state.Kabindra Prasad Sarma, bor doloi (head priest) of the temple, said the Mahayog is scheduled to commence at 2:56 pm on Sunday and will conclude at 3:00 am on June 26.The areas of Bharalu, Bhutnath, Maligaon, and Adabari are already witnessing a massive influx of devotees who have begun arriving from Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, settling there ahead of the Mahayog. Temporary tents and bhandaras (community kitchens) have been set up in these localities to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims. The streets and open spaces in these areas are brimming with activity as the crowd continues to swell with each passing hour, indicating the scale of participation this year.While some have consistently run community kitchens over the years, this year many have stepped up for the first time, claiming they are inspired by the spirit of service during the Ambubachi. “This is the first time we opened a stall, where we will be serving food and water to the pilgrims. We pooled in the necessary resources and got our tent registered at the district administration’s office,” said Anuvaa Dutta, a resident from Adabari.Meanwhile, Bishwajit Paul, a resident of Pandu who sets up a community kitchen near Pandu Port, said they usually begin operations on the day of the Mahayog. However, due to the overwhelming crowd this year, they were compelled to open a day in advance. “Earlier, tents used to be set up at both Pandu Port and the Kamakhya Railway Station, but this time, the majority of devotees are staying in tents erected on the port premises itself. So, we had to open the gates today. Starting Sunday, we will be serving three meals a day, along with drinks and snacks,” he said.Paul also added that the cost of running the community kitchen is very high, as last year, their daily expenditure went up to Rs 1.20 lakh, and this time, they are expecting it to rise even further.