With just hours remaining before the counting of votes, Sunday unfolded as a day of quiet faith and political anticipation, with many candidates turning to the divine to seek blessings ahead of the verdict.
Chief Minister's Temple Visits
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who remained busy campaigning for BJP candidates in West Bengal after the conclusion of polling in Assam, visited several temples. These included the 12th-century Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha, on April 30, Siddheshwari Kalibari in Ambika Kalna, West Bengal, and Shree Salasar Balaji Dham in Rajasthan on April 27. He has repeatedly claimed to the media that the NDA will once again form the government in Assam.
Chandi Yagnya for CM
On Sunday, some residents of North Guwahati, which falls under Sarma's home constituency of Jalukbari, organized a Chandi Yagnya at the Dirgheswari Mandir to pray for the Chief Minister. Babul Chetry, a resident, said, 'The yagnya was organized seeking blessings for the bright future of the CM and seeking him as CM for another term.' Chetry added that the yagnya was performed by him and his friend Basanta Kumar Kakoty. 'Even the CM does not have any knowledge about this yagnya which we organized for him,' he said. The Dirgheswari Mandir is a brick temple built by Ahom king Swargadeo Siva Singha and is considered a Shakta pitha.
Congress Leaders Offer Prayers
Meanwhile, Congress' Assam president and deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, along with party candidate Shantanu Borah, who contested from the Jorhat and New Guwahati constituencies respectively, offered prayers at the Bagala temple. This revered center of tantrism is nestled barely 500 meters from the Kamakhya shrine. The Bagala temple, located about 500 meters east of Kamakhya on Nilachal Hills, is one of the ten Das Mahavidya shrines dedicated to Goddess Bagalamukhi.
Jyoti Kumar Sarma, priest and president of the temple, said prayer at the Bagala temple is one of the most sought-after rituals among political leaders during elections. He added that the main purpose of the puja is to avoid political hurdles and emerge victorious in elections.
Other Candidates' Rituals
On the other hand, BJP leader Ashok Singhal, who is seeking a third consecutive term from the Dhekiajuli constituency, performed puja at the Hindu Vedic Kshetra at Panbari in his home assembly constituency. Singhal believes that everyone knows what the results will be. 'Therefore, I am not worried. Fates of the candidates were locked in the EVMs on April 9,' he added.
Meanwhile, BJP candidates from the Lakhimpur constituency, Manab Deka, and the Doom Dooma constituency, Rupesh Gowala, offered prayers on Sunday at the Sri Sri Basudev Than and Sri Sri Padummoni Aai Than in Lakhimpur. Their family members accompanied them.
A beeline at temples, including the Kamakhya temple, was also seen before polling on April 9.
