Guwahati, June 24 – One of Northeast India’s most revered spiritual events, the Ambubachi Mela has begun at the Kamakhya Temple in Assam, drawing lakhs of devotees from across the country and beyond. The four-day festival, steeped in Tantric tradition and fertility symbolism, is underway with the shrine closed from June 22 to 25 and set to reopen for darshan on June 26.
Located atop the Nilachal Hills in Guwahati, the Kamakhya Temple is dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya, considered a powerful embodiment of Shakti. The Ambubachi Mela is held annually during the monsoon, and is believed to mark the menstrual cycle of the goddess, a rare and sacred phenomenon in Hindu spirituality.
Unlike conventional religious festivals, Ambubachi does not involve the worship of a deity’s idol but instead reveres a natural process — the menstruation of the divine feminine. According to local belief, during this time, Mother Earth becomes fertile, and agricultural activities such as sowing and ploughing are paused in reverence.
Sociologist Sangeeta Das, in her paper Ambubachi Mela in Assam’s Kamakhya Temple: A Critical Analysis, notes, “What is worshipped at Kamakhya during Ambubachi is not an image of the Goddess, but a process… the creative and nurturing power of the menses of Mother Earth.”
During the closure period, devotees wait patiently for the temple doors to reopen, marking the end of the goddess’s sacred cycle. Cloths believed to be stained with the goddess’s menstrual fluid are distributed as protective amulets, treasured by pilgrims for spiritual protection.
Last year, an estimated 7 lakh pilgrims visited the temple during the festival, and a similar turnout is expected this year. The Assam government, prioritising religious tourism development, has allocated ₹4.55 crore for infrastructure and logistics. Provisions include:
- Two major pilgrim camps
- Toilets and bathing zones
- Free drinking water and medical services
- Enhanced traffic control by Guwahati Police
Tourism Minister Ranjit Kumar Dass reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing Kamakhya as a central religious tourism hub. “Ambubachi is not just a festival; it is a celebration of Shakti and Assam’s cultural identity,” he said.
With spiritual seekers, sadhus, mystics, and tourists converging on Guwahati, the Ambubachi Mela continues to reflect the enduring blend of devotion, tradition, and the divine feminine that makes Kamakhya one of India’s most unique pilgrimage sites.
Ambubachi Mela 2025 will concludes on June 26 with the ceremonial reopening of the temple gates.