US consul general visits Kamakhya

GUWAHATI: The United States consul general in Kolkata, Craig Hall, visited the Kamakhya Temple on Wednesday.

Hall, who was on a two-day visit to the city, took time out to visit the renowned shaktipeeth and get acquainted with its rich legacy. "Religion is important. I like to see places of religious significance. This is a great experience and I would love to come here again," he said.

The envoy first visited Kamakhya last year as part of an outreach programme in the state. He had been accompanied by US ambassador Richard Verma.

Hall told TOI that he had been looking forward to this visit. "I got to know about the temple only last year. I was with ambassador Verma when I first visited it. That was a brief trip. This is a famous temple and I wanted to visit it again," said Hall.

Hall also visited the Saubhagya Kunda before entering the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. After paying obeisance to goddess Kamakhya, he walked around the premises of the temple and took photographs.

On Wednesday, Hall also visited Shishu Sarothi, a voluntary organisation working for the empowerment and rights of disabled people. He met CM Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday and discussed a wide range of issues like culture, tourism, economy and student exchange.