TURA: Locals and priests feel that lesser-known ‘Shakti Peetha’ (places of worship consecrated to the goddess ‘Shakti’) in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills, which draws visitors from far-flung areas of Assam and Meghalaya, need promotion, so that devotees of Goddess Kamakhya will be able to pay their obeisance at the historic pilgrimage site located at Thakuranbari village, along Assam – Meghalaya border, close to Mancachar town of Assam.
The temple is about 45 km from Tura in West Garo Hills and falls under South West Garo Hills District. The temple is a seed of religious diversity. People from all communities irrespective of their religion visit the temple and seek blessings from Goddess Kamakhya. The temple is as revered as the renowned Kamakhya temple of Guwahati.
Kamakhya, the goddess is also identified as Kali and Maha Tripura Sundari.
Om Prakash Jha, temple priest of Kamakhya temple in Garo Hills says that the naval of Goddess Kamakhya was found at this very site. “The temple is based on Sati’s naval part. The Hindu population is less but there are devotees, who come from different parts of Assam and Meghalaya,” said Jha.
He informed that last year a community hall was inaugurated at the temple premises by Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, Pravin Bakshi.
The temple was built under sanction from the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF).
A rest house was built during chief minister of Assam, Hiteswar Saikia’s tenure and a washroom constructed by the Assam tourism department.
Though the temple is not widely popular like its counterpart in Guwahati, the place has gained attention as people, who have visited the temple have spread the word about this pilgrimage destination.
Locals feel that the state governments of Assam and Meghalaya should popularize the temple, so that devotees from the length and breadth of India can visit it.
“The tourist face difficulty during their visit to the temple as there is not much infrastructure facilities. If government of Assam and Meghalaya come together to promote the pilgrimage site, it will boost the economic income of the local population here apart from promotion of tourism”, said Sujit Bezbaruah, a devotee, who frequents the temple.
