Crowds Gather at Kamakhya Dham for Shardiya Durga Puja and Navratri
Guwahati : Kamakhya Dham in Guwahati is witnessing a surge of devotees for the ongoing Shardiya Durga Puja and Navratri celebrations. The historic Kamakhya Temple, a revered Shakti Peeth, celebrates Durga Puja uniquely, starting from Krishna Paksha Navami and lasting for 15 days. Special rituals such as Kumari Puja, honoring the feminine as a symbol of strength, are performed daily. Navratri sees large crowds and special arrangements, including Chandi Path, attracting pilgrims from across the country and abroad. The temple is beautifully decorated with lights and flowers for the festivities.
Here Durga Puja starts from Navami of Krishna Paksha and continues till Shukla Navami. That means there is regulation here for 15 days. Every year Durga Puja is celebrated here with enthusiasm. This time Durga Puja in Kamakhya Dham has started from 26th September.
Along with Durga Puja, Navratri is also celebrated here with great pomp. Chandi Path starts in Kamakhya Dham during Navratri. Chandi Path starts from the day Durga Puja begins. And a large number of devotees from India and abroad come here to recite Chandi.
During Navratri, Kumari Puja holds special significance at Kamakhya Temple. The feminine is revered as a symbol of strength, and the ritual begins on the first day of Navratri. Initially, one Kumari (young girl) is worshipped, with the number increasing daily. By the end of Durga Puja, the number of Kumaris being worshipped grows by one each day, symbolizing the increasing power of the feminine throughout the festival.
The nine-day Sharadiya Navratri celebrations have commenced from Thursday at Kamakhya Dham, drawing large crowds of devotees. During this period, there have been adjustments in the temple’s schedule for worshippers to see the Goddess, reflecting the increased devotion and activity. The temple is also beautifully adorned with decorative lights and flowers for both Durga Puja and Navratri, enhancing the festive atmosphere at the historic site.