Kamakhya temple suspends daily 'bhog', offers sanitisers to

As a preventive measure against the spread of novel coronavirus in Assam, the Kamakhya Temple - a Tantrik Shaktipeeth - here has started providing visitors with hand sanitiser and decided to temporarily stop the daily 'bhog' (food offering) from Tuesday.

The temple of Maa Kamakhya or Kameshwari is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths across the country and it attracts a large number of devotees every day.

As per government recommendations for preventing the spread of the virus, Temple Doloi (head) Kabindra Prasad Sarma on Monday said the temple administration was providing the devotees with hand sanitiser at the entry and exit points of the mandir premises.

Floors and hand railings in the temple premises were being washed and disinfected frequently, Sarma said.

The administration also suspended the daily 'bhog' from Tuesday and notices in this regard have been put up in several places of the temple.

The areas in the premises where large gatherings usually take place were being gradually shut down, Sarma said and appealed to the devotees to cooperate with the temple administration.

The temple authorities have urged the health department to set up a health camp in the temple premises to create awareness about Covid-19, he said.

Help desks have also been set up for the convenience of foreign tourists, temple administration officials said.

Apart from the temple of Maa Kamakhya, that of Dasamahavidya, Kali, Tara, Bhubaneswari, Bagalamukhi, Chinnamasta, Bhairavi, Dhumavati and Lord Shiva are there in the premises.