Deoghar

A day before polling begins in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the revered Baba Baidyanath Temple in Jharkhand’s Deoghar district on Wednesday to seek blessings.

Accompanied by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, Sarma arrived amid tight security and proceeded directly to the sanctum sanctorum, where he performed religious rituals at the sacred jyotirlinga. Priests assisted him with offerings of bel leaves and holy water, along with the chanting of Vedic hymns.

After the ceremony, members of the temple committee presented the chief minister with a symbolic memento associated with Baba Baidyanath. Sarma did not interact with the media during the visit.

Polling for the 126-member Assam Assembly is scheduled to begin at 7 am on Thursday and will continue until 5 pm. The counting of votes will take place on May 4. The BJP is seeking a third consecutive term in the state, while the Congress is aiming to regain power after losing it in 2016.

READ MORE: Two-time world kickboxing champion Tajamul Islam is an ode to human spirit

Recognised as one of the 12 jyotirlingas, Baidyanath Dham is an important pilgrimage site that draws large numbers of devotees, particularly during the holy month of Shravan.