SIVASAGAR, Oct 13 - The nearly 1000-year-old Ramkhapeeth at Deoghariya gaon, Dikhowmukh, the third oldest shrine of the Sakti cult in Assam after the Kamakhya in Nilachal and Tamreswari mandir at Kundilnagar near Sadiya, is bracing up to observe Durga puja with traditional sanctity following strict COVID-19 protocols. The four-day puja from October 22 to 26, will be managed by the permanant Ramkhapeeth Development and Management Committee with Pawan Borthakur and Bikash Kumar Bora as president and secretary. Not more than 30 devotees will be allowed to enter the mandir premises and each mask wearing individual will have to undergo thermal test at the gate.
The Ramkhapeeth Dewalay, earlier known as Deosal in Ahom days, was a famous centre of Sakti cult worshipping the goddess with traditional animal sacrifice throughout the rule of the 34 Chutia kings in Upper Assam prior to the advent of the Ahoms. As recorded in Naoboicha Phukan�s Buranji, the first Ahom King Siu-ka-pha offered animals for sacrifice at the Ramkhapeeth Deosal while he was at Huabung on the northern bank. Later, Suteupha (1268-81) reportedly exempted revenue collection from the Deosal. According to some historians, Swargadeo Laksmi Singha (1769-80) reconstructed the mandir though nothing much could be recovered of the original temple except a few stone slabs which were washed away by the Brahmaputra. The eldest son of one Lukurasan Brahmin was entrusted by the Ahom King to perform puja in the shrine which is being continued by the same clan till today. Neglected by the earlier governments despite being one of the oldest religious and important shrines from the tourism perspective, the present government sanctioned Rs 10 lakh for development of the mandir and devotee facilitation centre attached to the mandir. The approach road is also being developed through the government�s Asom Darshan scheme.
Meanwhile, more famous than any other Sakti shrine in Upper Assam, Devi doul in historic Siva doul premises is still centre of attraction for the Durga worshippers. The Ahom kings officially observed Durga Puja every autumn here and animal sacrifices here are a major cause of attraction for the devotees. This year also the Doul Unnayan Samity will perform puja with limited number of animal sacrifices following government instructions, said Suresh Borthakur, Head Priest, Siva doul.
Durga Puja of the Barowari Puja Samity, famous for its decorations and discipline, will be of a low key. For the first time in its 89-year history, puja will be held inside the Kali Pd Memorial Hall to restrain the usual rush of devotees during the puja days. Committee secretaries Mridul Kumar Adhyapok and PK Das informed that elaborate arrangements have been made to avoid rush of the devotees from Saptami to Navami.
The Baowari Mahila Mancha has conducted online competitions among the devotees in aai naam, uruli, sankha etc., competitions and the prizes will be given on the puja days. Durga Puja will also be observed without fanfare and decoration at Sarbojanin Durgushov Samity, Nava Durgutsov Samittee, Rongpur Durgutsov Samity and 25 more places in and around Sivasagar.
Meanwhile, the DC of Sivasagar Lakhinandan Gogoi has in a discussion with all puja committees explained in details about the dos and dont�s in the coming celebrations. It requires all the commitee members and the shop owners within the puja pandal premises to undergo tests before the puja, sanitize the premises, regulate devotees, wearing masks all the time and keeping soaps, sanitizers ready and displaying banners to sensitise people on the threat of the pandemic.
