JORHAT, Oct 22 - Clad in traditional attires on the day of Maha Saptami today, hundreds of devotees belonging to different tribal and non-tribal communities assembled at historic Ramkhapith Devaloy in Dikhowmukh area of Sivasagar district that still bears the traditions of royal celebration of Durga Puja during the Ahom period in the State.
As Ahom king Lakshmi Singha (1769-1780) set up this holy shrine more than 240 years ago, worship of Durga and Her consort Siva along with their four children Ganesha, Kartik, Lakshmi and Saraswati have been a grand annual celebration for the devotees, who have a strong belief in the Shakti cult.
Talking to this correspondent, many devotees expressed their deep-rooted faith in worship of Shakti at Ramkhapith, that is claimed to have similarities with the Kamakhya temple. �Every year we come here to get the blessings of Durga. As the traditions of Shakti worship are still followed here with sacrifices and many other traditions of the Ahom period, our faith is deep,� said a devotee of a tribal community.
Several other devotees said that the existence of many sculptures, stones and the equipment of the Ahom period at Ramkhapith still attract them as they have historical and archaeological significance.
