SIVASAGAR, Feb 16 � The historic Sivasagar town is abuz with the final round of preparations for welcoming lakhs of visitors to the golden-peaked Siva Temple (Siva Doul) for making a grand success of Sivaratri celebration.
After Deputy Commissioner Virendra Mittal declared open the Sivaratri Mela (fair) on the temple premises, hundreds of businessmen on both sides of Temple Road from Marowaripatti Chariali to the Siva Doul premises, started displaying various items including cosmetic, potteries, curbuncles, traditional attires and many more for prospective customers, who thronged the place from different pockets of the State and other parts of the country.
�I have seen no difference in the mood of celebration among the people since my childhood. Now I am 47 years old and today also I see the same festive mood in this historic town, which reminds me of the glorious past of worshiping Lord Siva following the royal tradition,�said a village woman Bonti Borkotoki, who came from Nitaipukhuri area to the Sivaratri Mela.
But many students appearing in the Higher Secondary Examinations and their parents will not be able to attend the festival this time because of their examinations.
The organisers said Sivaratri Puja will be performed tomorrow inside the Siva Doul, which is one of the best known Siva temples across the globe. The fair will continue till February 18. �It will be a grand celebration. We are doing our best for it,�said Deputy Commissioner Mittal.
Mittal also said some new initiatives will be taken for promoting tourism in the historic town where several monuments of historical significance lie scattered.
Several visitors told this correspondent that their visit to the town during Sivaratri has given them additional festive flavour of royal heritage as the priests and the organisers are still keeping the traditions alive in the Siva Doul which were practised during the Ahom rule.
However, people faced problems near some traffic points in the town this evening as police personnel were not deployed in adequate numbers in those areas to clear the rush. Several police personnel and volunteers were deployed near the temple to ensure security.
