GUWAHATI, June 25 - The doors of the Kamakhya temple would be opened for the devotees since early morning tomorrow marking the culmination of the Ambubachi festival. The temple witnessed an unprecedented rush of people since last evening, which is likely to increase further when the doors will be opened.
For tightening the security arrangements and cleaning the approach road to the temple expecting more footfall in the coming two days, the district administration has ordered restriction on the movement of devotees after midnight today.
�We need at least five to six hours� time for the necessary arrangements to facilitate smooth movement of devotees when the temple is opened. After completing the necessary work, devotees would be allowed to go to the temple from 6 am,� Kamrup Metro DC Dr M Angamuthu said.
As per an estimate, nearly 10 lakh people visited the temple yesterday and till this afternoon, the temple witnessed more than five lakh people.
�Considering the rush of people this time, we expect a total footfall of more than 40 lakh people during the weeklong fest. The number might go up as the devotees are lining up the entire night to go inside the temple. From next year onwards, we have to make arrangements to accommodate more people,� he added.
Last night also, the movement of devotees had to be stopped due to heavy rush.
The �Nibriti� timing, which signifies the winding up of the Ambubachi Mela inside the temple, is 1.39 am on the intervening night of June 25 and 26.
�Despite the rush of people this time, the Mela was smoothly arranged by the administration in which the temple management authorities also extended their full cooperation. Since the rush would continue for a couple of days more, we are preparing to accommodate more people for darshan,� said Sanjeeb Sarma, public relations officer of the Kamakhya Devalaya management committee. After completing the rituals inside the sanctum sanctorum, the authorities would open the doors by 6.30 am tomorrow.
