The annual Ambubachi Mela commenced at the revered Kamakhya Temple atop Nilachal Hill in Assam on Sunday afternoon, with the temple doors closed to mark the start of the goddess’s symbolic menstruation period.
The sanctum sanctorum was shut precisely at 2.56 pm as the ‘Ambubachi Mahayog’ began—a spiritually significant interval during which it is believed that Mother Goddess Kamakhya undergoes her annual menstrual cycle. The temple authority has announced that the sanctum will reopen on the morning of June 26, following purification rituals on June 25.
Often described as the “Mahakumbh of the East”, the Ambubachi Mela draws lakhs of pilgrims, tantriks, ascetics, and curious visitors from across India and abroad each year. The event transcends mere religious observance to become a powerful cultural affirmation of feminine divinity and fertility.
“Ambubachi” roughly translates to “spoken with water”, and the event symbolises both the onset of the monsoon and the menstruation of the goddess. Rooted in Tantric tradition, the mela is considered one of the most potent expressions of Shakti worship in the subcontinent.
Hindus, particularly in Assam and the surrounding regions, observe these days as inauspicious for agricultural or auspicious household work, refraining from ploughing fields or undertaking ceremonies.
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In keeping with tradition, daily rituals including Snan (sacred bathing) and Nitya Puja (daily worship) were performed prior to the temple’s closure on Sunday morning. The belief holds that the yoni (womb) of Goddess Sati fell at the Kamakhya site during Lord Shiva’s Tandava, marking it as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.
Local scholar and priest Acharya Dwijen Goswami explained: “The divine power of the goddess is considered to reside deep within during these days. The closing of the temple symbolises the Earth’s rest and regeneration.”
On June 25, elaborate rituals will cleanse the premises before devotees are permitted to re-enter. The reopening is marked with the ‘Nivritti’, where devotees throng the temple complex offering prayers, flowers, and ritual items.
Beyond the spiritual core, the Ambubachi Mela has evolved into a broader cultural congregation. Traditional music, chanting, spiritual discourses, and folk art lend the occasion a festival-like vibrancy that celebrates both devotion and heritage.
Importantly, the Mela also offers a progressive narrative. In contrast to widespread taboos around menstruation in many parts of India, the Kamakhya Temple’s celebration of the goddess’s cycle challenges regressive attitudes and promotes a more inclusive and respectful discourse on womanhood.
Authorities have made arrangements to manage the heavy influx of pilgrims, with makeshift shelters, sanitation services, and healthcare tents set up across the Nilachal Hills.
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