Why In The News?

• A writ petition challenging the proposed Maa Kamakhya Corridor project has been filed in the Gauhati High Court, alleging potential ecological risks due to large scale demolition, excavation, and reconstruction.

Maa Kamakhya temple corridor initiative:

=> The project has been initiated by the state government drawing inspiration from the Kashi-Vishwanath Corridor.

=> Once completed, Maa Kamakhya corridor will provide ease of access to our divyang and elderly pilgrims.

=> Under the initiative, the temple’s surrounding area will expand from 3,000 sq ft to about 100,000 sq ft across three levels.

=> The access corridor will widen from about 8-10 ft to about 27-30 ft.

=> The project includes creating space for 8,000-10,000 pilgrims to ease the crowd during major festivals like Ambubachi Mela.

Kamakhya temple architecture:

=> It had been modelled out of a combination of two different styles namely, the traditional nagara or North Indian and Saracenic or Mughal style of architecture.

=> This unusual combination has been named the Nilachala Style of Architecture.

=> This is the only temple of Assam having a fully developed ground plan.

=> It consists of five chambers, garbhagriha or sanctuary, antarala or vestibule, Jagan Mohan or principal chamber, bhogmandir or ritual chamber and natmandir or opera hall for performing traditional dance and music associated with sukti temples.

=> It is interesting to note that the superstructure of each of the above chambers exhibits different architectural features.