DHUBRI, Aug 3 - Mahamaya Dham also called Mahamaya Temple located about 30 km east of Dhubri town, is struggling to meet its daily expenses amid the lockdown.
The dham which is regarded as the greatest �shakti peeth� of western Assam, is struggling to pay its staff salaries and make payments to the shops from where they are bringing different commodities to continue with the pujas. The premier religious institution which attracted hundreds of pilgrims from all over the country, is facing its worst financial crisis.
The dham currently has 28 employees including five priests, more than 300 monkeys and 30 dogs, informs the Mandir Committee, who also explains that since the lockdown started the animals have also had to struggle with hunger.
�All the 28 employees of the temple are yet to get their salaries since the month of March. The temple committee is yet to pay many bills as many commodities have been taken on credit�, said Sankar Ch Barman, the accountant of the Mandir. He also explains, �Few local shops are giving them items on credit, due to which the priests and other employees are getting at least eat twice a day. Otherwise, we would have died hungry too�.
The employees of the dam said that they get water only when electricity is available and since a few days the electricity is also disturbing and they do not have enough money to procure diesel for it, �Sometimes for days when electricity remains unavailable we have to face acute water crisis�, said one of the priest. �We are however continuing with the puja and offering the minimal bhog to the deity�.
�We run completely on the money of the pilgrims, and as the pilgrimage has been completely stopped we have nothing in our hands�, said Barman. �If this crisis continues, the future of one of the largest pilgrimages of western Assam, will be uncertain�. According to the Temple committee it will be tough to continue without the immediate help of the State.
