The Kamakhya Temple Management Committee has decided not to organize historic Ambubachi Mela held at the temple premises every year in June due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The five-day festival at the shakti peetha atop Nilachal Hill in Guwahati is usually organised from June 22 to June 26 every year.
The festival witnesses a footfall of 20-25 lakh pilgrims from all across the country and even abroad.
Apart from being one of the largest religious congregations in the country, the Ambubachi festival is one of the biggest events in the annual tourism calendar of Assam.
Ambubachi festival marks the annual menstruation cycle of goddess Kamakhya.
The rituals inside the temple, however, would be observed as usual, Assam Tribune reported.
Through a notice, the committee has also asked the residents and landlords of areas surrounding the temple to not lend their houses for the Mela.
In normal circumstances, the temple door remains closed during the festival and bookings are made in advance for the event as pilgrims come and stay in houses atop Nilachal Hill.
However, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the temple management committee had decided to close the doors of the shrine from March 20.
