In Pictures: Assamese Celebrate Deodhani Dance Festival

Devotees from across India gathered at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati to celebrate the Deodhani dance festival.

A Dheoda performs during the festival. (Photo: Anjana Dutta)

Devotees from across India gathered at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati recently to celebrate the two-day long Deodhani dance festival. Devotees participating in the festival go through a month long preparatory phase, during which they are not permitted to meet their families and have to stay in the temple premises with a photograph of the deity they want to represent.

The temple atop Nilachal hills has Goddess Kamakhya, consort of Lord Shiva, as its deity.

Women offering prayers to goddess Kamakhya at the temple. (Photo: Anjana Dutta) 

During the festival, the Nilachal hills is reverberated with sound of drum beats and religious chants.

Devotees play the dhol during the festival. (Photo: Anjana Dutta)

The temple dancers performing the Deodhani are believed to be possessed by a god or goddess.

A Deodha dances at the festival (Photo: Anjana Dutta)

It is believed that these dancers are acquire clairvoyant abilities during the time of the festival. Devotees offer them goats, pigeons and clothes to get their future predicted by these Deodhas.

Another Deodha dances to the beat of drums. (Photo: Anjana Dutta)

One devotee seeks blessing from a Dheoda before offering a kid. (Photo: Anjana Dutta)

Devotees go through a month long preparatory phase, during which they are supposed to stay away from their families.

A woman prays to the deity. (Photo: Anjana Dutta)

A large number of devotees come to take part in the two-day long festival.

Huge crowd gathers to celebrate the festival. (Photo: Anjana Dutta)