STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Thousands of devotees of Lord Shiva thronged the Umananda Temple on Friday on the occasion of Shivratri. The managing committee of Umanada Devaloi said that devotees from different parts of the city as well as from outside of Assam visited to offer their prayers. One of the priests of the temple Pranab Sarma said that "Around 8000-9000 devotees have already reached here to worship Lord Shiva and we hope to witness increased footfalls"
It is to be mentioned that the Assam Inland Water Transport Department also allocated multiple ferry services to Umananda Temple. The administration seemed to be concerned about the safety of the devotees.
However, the devotees said they have witnessed a vast difference of fair in the ferry services. The passengers claimed that the government ferry service is taking the same fair as earlier i.e. Rs10 per person and the ferry services that are on lease are taking Rs.20. Hence, as claimed by the passengers, the private ferry services collected Rs. 100 from each person and after receiving complaints they reduced the fair to Rs. 80.