Guwahati, May 12 (IANS) Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday visited the revered Kamakhya Temple atop the Nilachal Hills in Guwahati after attending the oath-taking ceremony of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the Khanapara playground.

The two leaders offered prayers and sought blessings of Goddess Maa Kamakhya following the swearing-in ceremony, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled states.

Security arrangements were heightened around the temple premises as devotees and visitors gathered to witness the arrival of the senior BJP leaders. Priests at the temple performed traditional rituals and welcomed the dignitaries in accordance with temple customs.

The Kamakhya Temple is one of the most revered Shakti Peethas in the country and holds immense spiritual significance in Hinduism, especially in Tantric worship traditions. Situated atop the Nilachal Hills overlooking the Brahmaputra River, the ancient temple is dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya, an incarnation of Goddess Shakti.

According to Hindu mythology, the temple is regarded as a symbol of feminine power. The temple attracts lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad every year, particularly during the annual Ambubachi Mela, a major religious congregation that celebrates the divine feminine power. The festival is considered one of the biggest spiritual events in the Northeast.

The BJP-led NDA registered a sweeping victory in the recently concluded Assam Assembly elections, paving the way for Sarma to continue as Chief Minister.

Earlier in the day, Himanta Biswa Sarma took oath as the Chief Minister of the state for a second consecutive term, as the BJP-led NDA formed the government in Assam for the third straight time. Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Sarma at a grand swearing-in ceremony held at Khanapara in Guwahati in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several top BJP and NDA leaders.

Apart from Sarma, four other MLAs took the oath as Ministers. They are former Union Minister Rameswar Teli, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) President Atul Bora, United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) leader Charan Boro and senior BJP leader Ajanta Neog.

–IANS

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