Now, no need for COVID-19 negative report to visit Kamakhya Devalaya

GUWAHATI: Now, a COVID-19 negative report shall no longer be necessary to enter the grounds of the Kamakhaya Devalaya located in Guwahati, Assam, informed temple authorities. Devotees will now be allowed to perform parikrama (circumambulation ritual of sacred places), even without producing a COVID-19 certificate.

Ridip Sarma, a priest of the temple, informed Inside Northeast that starting yesterday onwards, the temple authorities have decided to do away with the requirement of a COVID-19 negative certificate for devotees. "However, the devotees will be required to produce a negative certificate if they wish to enter the Inner Sanctum of the temple. However, for parikrama purposes, they can visit without a certificate," Sarma stated.

The priest also informed us that the COVID-19 testing facility at the Temple is still there. "However, people will now have the option of declining the test if they do not wish to enter the Inner Sanctum of the temple. Before anyone enters the Sanctum, they will have to produce a fresh COVID certificate to be allowed in," he added.

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The inner sanctum within the shikhara, the garbhagriha, is below ground level and consists of no image but a rock fissure in the shape of a yoni (female genital).

It needs mention here that the Kamakhya Devalaya reopened the doors to the main 'Shakti peeth' or Sanctum sanctorum for devotees on 21st October on the occasion of Durga Puja. The Kamakhya temple, one of the prominent Shakti Peethas in the country, reopened its doors to visitors in October after over 7 months of its doors being closed due to the COVID-19. However, initially, devotees were only allowed to perform the 'parikrama' and the Inner Sanctum was kept closed.

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