GUWAHATI: Pandas in Guwahati’s Kamakhya Temple have alleged that a sudden unintimated rush of devotees accompanied by popular Koch-Rajbangshi leader and Rajya Sabha MP from West Bengal Nagendra Ray (Anant Maharaj) created inconvenience in the regular management of temple activities on Wednesday, September 23.
ALSO READ: Assam Government Offices To Go Paperless From January 1, 2027
According to the Pandas, Anant Maharaj, accompanied by some 7,000 devotees from the Cooch Behar area, overwhelmed the Kamakhya Temple premises, particularly the main entrance and the Parikrama route, obstructing other devotees and the priests.
According to the Rajya Sabha website, Nagendra Ray is a BJP parliamentarian from West Bengal.
“These people have created ruckus in the temple premises. We had requested them to give way to other devotees and priests, but they didn’t,” a Kamakhya priest told the media.
King Nara Narayan of the Koch dynasty had rebuilt the present day Kamakhya Temple. A section of the Koch-Rajbangshi people now feel that they are, in a way, sidelined from the same place which was built by their ancestors.
Speaking to the media, Kamakhya Temple’s Soru Doloi, Himadri Sarma, said that they didn’t expect such a large number of devotees without a prior intimation.
“We, or the administration, or the police, are always informed of such large gatherings by the devotees. In this case, we didn’t get prior information. Our security somehow managed the crowd,” Himadri Sarma said.
The main entrance of the temple and the Parikrama route were totally overwhelmed by the devotees for a considerable period of time.
The police were soon informed, Soru Doloi said.
“The behaviour of these devotees was not in good taste. They misbehaved with us priests and the security personnel. Devotees are our Atithi (guests) and we are always committed to provide them all necessary arrangements,” he said. “We feel very sad today.”
The matter was raised with Anant Maharaj, in the presence of priests, police, and Kamrup Metro DC, Himadri Sarma said.
“Anant Maharaj assured us that a similar episode won’t recur in the future,” Soru Doloi asserted.