The Ambubachi Mela is an annual mela held at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam, that celebrates the menstruation course of Goddess Kamakhya. There is no idol in the temple, the goddess is worshipped in the form of a yoni-like stone over which a natural spring flows. Also known as Siddha Kubjika, the goddess is a Hindu tantric goddess of desire who evolved in the Himalayan hills. She is also identified as Kali and Maha Tripura. The festival is also known as ‘Mahakumbh of the East’ as it draws lakhs of devotees from all over the world. The four-day festival begins on the fourth days after the goddess undergoes her annual periods. The temple remains shut during those three days and once it reopens devotees visit the temple to receive the goddess’ blessings. In 2018, it begins on June 22 and ends on June 25. Here we present to you 10 facts about the festival and the goddess.
Guwahati: Devotees perform with instruments and sing ‘bhajan’ at Maa Kamakhya Temple ahead of the annual occasion of Ambubachi Mela in Guwahati on Wednesday, June 20, 2018. (PTI Photo)
- According to a legend, Sati, Lord Shiva’s wife, jumped into the fire after her father insulted her husband. Carrying her corpse, Shiva performed Tandav Nritya. The place where the parts of her body fell were formed in ‘Shakti Peeths’. Kamakhya Temple was formed where the goddess’ womb and genitals fell.
- The goddess goes through her menstrual cycle every year in the month of June. During those three days, devotees refrain from performing puja, farming and reading holy books.
- Not only Kamakhya temple but all the temples in Assam are closed during those days and no religious activities are performed.
- After three days, the Goddess is bathed and other rituals are performed. On the fourth day, the doors of the temple are reopened and Prasad is distributed.
- The Prasad is distributed in two forms – ‘Angodak’ and ‘Angabastra’. ‘Angodak’ means the fluid part of the body which is basically water from the spring. While the latter is also called as ‘rakta bastra’ which is cloth soaked in the menses of the goddess.
- The temple turns red during those four days. The colour red holds special importance during the festival with everything red from flowers to cloth.
- The goddess is also recognised as the goddess of desire and fertility.
- The temple got destroyed in the 16th century. Later, King of Cooch rebuilt it. The temple has four prayer chambers – Garbagriha, Pancharatna, Calanta, and Natamandiramong.
An Indian sadhu smokes cannabis at Kamakhya temple in Guwahati in the Indian state of Assam on June 20, 2018. AFP PHOTO / Biju BORO
- The festival sees thousands of tantriks and sadhus in attendance from across the world, displaying their psychic powers making an extraordinary spectacle.
- It is believed that during the festival, the goddess possesses supreme powers and hence tantrics and sadhus are seeing performing cult practices.