The annual Ambubachi Mela, marking the revered menstruation cycle of Maa Kamakhya, has concluded with a record turnout at the Kamakhya Temple in Assam's Guwahati.
The four-day festival, which began on June 22, saw the temple doors reopened to devotees on June 25, following a period of closure.
This year witnessed an unprecedented influx of devotees, with the temple secretary, Jnan Nath Sarma, reporting a significant increase from last year.
"In 2023, around 22 lakh devotees visited the temple, but this year, the numbers have surged to 30 lakh," Sarma revealed, attributing the rise to the widespread media publicity and the festival's growing global recognition.
Sarma highlighted the transformation of Ambubachi Mela from a largely spiritual gathering of sadhus and ascetics to an event of international significance.
"Initially, only those involved in spiritual practices knew of the mela. However, with extensive coverage on social media and other media platforms, it has now become a global event, attracting visitors from across the world," he said.
Among this year's attendees were a large number of sadhus, including Naga sadhus, and holy men from countries such as Nepal and Canada.
The festival also saw a notable increase in participation from the Kinnar Akhada, a group representing transgender devotees.
A temple committee member noted that the number of transgender devotees had risen, partly due to the Assam government's recent approval of the Transgender Policy, which has facilitated greater inclusion.
Priotests in Kamakhya
Despite the extensive preparations by the Assam government and the Kamakhya Temple Management Committee, the festival's final day was marred by protests.
Thousands of devotees staged a demonstration at the temple's main gate, citing inadequate amenities as their primary grievance.
Protesters highlighted the lack of proper sanitation and medical facilities, which they claimed were insufficient for the large gathering of sadhus and devotees.
Specific complaints included the absence of ambulances and restricted access to medical services, with allegations of mistreatment by authorities, particularly towards senior citizens.
Some transgender devotees also reported being barred from using the premises' toilets by NGO members, who allegedly confiscated their identity cards.
The protests, marked by slogans against the administration and police, criticised the stringent regulations that limited devotees' movement within the temple complex.
There were also accusations that the administration restricted the free movement of Naga Sadhus in areas of religious significance.
However, according to the temple management, in response to the increased number of devotees and the intense heat, it had enhanced several facilities.
Sarma noted that additional water tanks were distributed, and the number of medical and rest camps was increased.
"However, to accommodate the large number of visitors, the usual resting and food arrangements were moved outside the temple premises, near Pandu Port and Kamakhya Railway Station, to ensure sufficient space for prayer within the temple," he added.
Follow us
