Devotees Gather at Kamakhya Temple for Ambubachi Mela in Guwahati

Guwahati, Assam – A large number of devotees from all over India visited the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati as the annual Ambubachi Mela began on Saturday. The temple’s main door will remain closed for three days after the start of the Mela, symbolizing the goddess’s menstruation period, which represents fertility and womanhood. The door will reopen on June 26.

On Saturday, priests chanted mantras and the sound of conches filled the air as devotees worshipped the goddess. Some lay on the ground in devotion, while others posed for pictures wearing devotional headbands.

Kabindra Prasad Sarma-Doloi, the head priest of the temple, announced that the Ambubachi Mela’s Pravritti would be performed at 8:45 am on Friday. He also mentioned that the Nivritti would be performed on June 26, after which the temple would reopen and all rituals and pujas would be conducted.

The Assam government and district administration have provided support, including security, transportation, and food. Last year, around 2.5 million devotees visited the temple during the Mela, and the number is expected to increase this year.

The Kamakhya Temple, located atop Nilachal Hills, is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths in India. The Ambubachi Mela is one of the largest religious gatherings in Eastern India. During the three-day closure, it is believed that ‘Mother Earth’ undergoes her annual cycle of menstruation, and farmers avoid cultivation to not disturb the goddess.