Arunachal Pradesh: Devotees gathered at Malinithan temple on New Year’s Day

Arunachal Pradesh: On January 1, devotees from various places gathered at the famous Malinithan Temple located at Likabali in Lower Siang, Arunachal Pradesh to seek blessings on this auspicious occasion of New Year’s Day.

Malinithan, an important tourist destination with rich historical and cultural significance, has not received the attention it deserves due to inadequate publicity. Although this temple has immense spiritual importance, its footfall remains comparatively low when compared with other popular religious places.

Located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River, Malinithan is an archaeological site where one can find temple remains dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be built by the Chutiya kings during the 13th-14th century. The damaged temple was dedicated to Kechai-Khaiti, either a tribal goddess worshiped among Bodo-Kachari groups, or Tara, who is associated with Buddhism.

Despite its limited awareness, Malinithan has the status of one of the most famous Shaktipeeths of India after the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati.

During her initial visit, tourist Meena Chakraborty from Dibrugarh expressed surprise and approval towards Malinithan. He appreciated the temple’s location atop a hill and its immaculate appearance, while also acknowledging the temple committee’s conscientiousness in preserving its grounds.

Chakraborty praised the attractiveness of Malinithan’s archaeological remains, and urged other visitors to uncover this hidden treasure.

Even though the government has made efforts to increase tourism in Arunachal Pradesh, Malinithan is ignored. Due to its deteriorating condition and lack of awareness, this temple fails to gain recognition as a revered tourist attraction.

Since the 20th century, stone fragments discovered in the temple have highlighted its historical importance. In fact, during the excavations from 1968 to 1971, valuable texts were unearthed. What distinguishes Malinithan from most temples in Northeast India is not only its history, but also its construction of granite rather than bricks.

After the commencement of Bogibeel Bridge, Malinithan has become easily accessible, allowing tourists from Dibrugarh and Tinsukia to travel with great convenience. Despite the obstacles faced by this temple, it remains a testament to the rich cultural and religious heritage of Arunachal Pradesh; Therefore the authorities are being urged to promote its value along with other iconic temples of India.