The Ambubachi Mela is held annually at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam. The mela is celebrated in June and this year it was held between 22nd June till 26 June. The significance of the Ambubachi Mela is to celebrate the yearly menstruation of goddess Kamakhya. It is therefore believed that Goddess Kamakhya goes through her annual cycle of menstruation during this time frame. and it is also believed that Goddess Kamakhya rests for 3 days and during these 3 days of rest, the temple is closed to the public. On the 4th day, the temple reopens and the devotees are allowed to enter the main temple and offer worship to the Goddess. There is no idol of the Goddess but she is worshipped in the form of a yoni like stone instead and over this flows a natural spring. It is said that a white cloth is placed on the Yoni sculpture when the temple is closed during the three days and after three days, the white cloth turns red. According to legend, this is caused by the blood discharge of the Goddess as she is said to be menstruating. There are two kinds of special of prasads or blessed foods distributed among the devotees: Angodak and Angabastra. Angodak is the red coloured holy water of the Goddess believed to be released during the three day menstruation and is a mixture of holy water and sindoor. Angabastra is the red cloth which covers the yoni sculpture during the three days of menstruation. These are actually hard to get until and unless one has good connections with the temple priests.
The festival attracts a large crowd from not only various parts of India but abroad as well. Here people have gathered on the steps of the temple.Here important spiritual leaders associated with various groups such as the Panch Dashnam Juna Akhara and the Kinnar Akhara are gathered here.The mela is attended by a large number of Sadhus and they stay in an area called the Akhada. Every evening, they come out to perform Parikrama around the temple and then head back to the Akhada.This is a bathing area where alot of devotees cleanse themselves before offering Darshan to the Goddess. This area is known as Saubhagya Kund.The mela is also known as Tantric fertility festival as Tantric Babas make their public appearances only during these four days while for the rest of the year, they remain in seclusion.The stone carvings depict Goddess, and a red fabric is draped in front of the stone carvings. Devotees walking barefooted to reach the temple. It is 3km walk up from the main gate to the temple and can take much longer depending on the crowd. On the way up to the temple, there are various stands where people are offered free juices and water.Each day during the festival, the temple is visited by lakhs of visitors and include Sadhus and Sadhvi’s, householders, Aghoras, Tantriks, Sanyasins and even foreigners and all come mainly to seek the blessings of Goddess Kamakhya. A small girl is dressed as the Goddess and some puja is performed here.The temple is home to many pigeons and here the pigeons appear light reddish in colour because they are covered in Sindoor or Vermilion which is an orange red powder.
The Ambubachi Mela is held annually at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam. The mela is celebrated in June and this year it was held between 22nd June till 26 June. The significance of the Ambubachi Mela is to celebrate the yearly menstruation of goddess Kamakhya. It is therefore believed that Goddess Kamakhya goes through her annual cycle of menstruation during this time frame. and it is also believed that Goddess Kamakhya rests for 3 days and during these 3 days of rest, the temple is closed to the public. On the 4th day, the temple reopens and the devotees are allowed to enter the main temple and offer worship to the Goddess. There is no idol of the Goddess but she is worshipped in the form of a yoni like stone instead and over this flows a natural spring. It is said that a white cloth is placed on the Yoni sculpture when the temple is closed during the three days and after three days, the white cloth turns red. According to legend, this is caused by the blood discharge of the Goddess as she is said to be menstruating. There are two kinds of special of prasads or blessed foods distributed among the devotees: Angodak and Angabastra. Angodak is the red coloured holy water of the Goddess believed to be released during the three day menstruation and is a mixture of holy water and sindoor. Angabastra is the red cloth which covers the yoni sculpture during the three days of menstruation. These are actually hard to get until and unless one has good connections with the temple priests.
