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Ambubachi Mela: Celebrating Divine Menstruation

Guwahati is the gateway to North-East India and also the gateway to divinity and spirituality, as it is home for Goddess Kamakhya who is one of the several incarnations of Goddess Durga or Goddess Shakti, hence, Kamakhya Temple is among the oldest of the 51 “Shakti Peethas”. The temple is situated high atop Nilachal Parbat or Kamagiri in the heart of Guwahati city. Kamakhya Temple is one of the several religious landmarks of Assam which speak volumes about the rich cultural, religious and historical heritage of the state. In addition to the main Devi temple, it also comprises of other major temples, namely, Devi Kali, Bagala, Tara, Chinnamasta, Bhuvaneshvari, Bhairavi and Dhumavati. 

There is an age old legend behind the Kamakhya Temple which dates back to the mythological era. According to this belief, Goddess Parvati (wife of Lord Shiva) took her life by jumping into the fire of a “Yajna” ceremony organized by her father Daksha as he did not invite Parvati and Lord Shiva to the ceremony and insulted him in front of all the guests. The news of his wife’s death outraged Lord Shiva and he went to the Yajna ceremony and picked up Parvatis’s corpse and performed the dance of destruction “Tandava”. The intensity of Lord Shiva’s fury and the Tandava was so prodigious that earth was on the verge of destruction. As a result, Lord Vishnu, on the appeal of all other Gods, used his chakra and cut Parvati’s body, the pieces of which fell in different parts of the country which are considered as Shakti Peethas. The reproductive part of Goddess Parvati fell in the Nilachal Parbat where Kamakhya Temple is situated.

There are four prayer chambers in the temple namely: Garbagriha, Calanta, Pancharatna and Natamandiramong. The first chamber is considered as the most important one, which is in the form of a cave and house a natural spring that resembles the womb of the goddess. 

Every year during the month of June, after the first monsoon rains, the Brahmaputra turns blood-red and it is believed that the Goddess bleeds which embarks the onset of the yearly menstruation cycle of Goddess Kamakhya. An annual fair called the “Ambubachi Mela” is held during this period and the temple doors remain closed for three days. It is said that because of this religious fair of celebrating a “Goddess who bleeds”, a girl attaining womanhood is celebrated in this region with a small function called “Tuloni Biya”.



It is one of the unique fairs hosted in India, where millions of Tantrics and Sadhus gather near the temple premises from all over the country and perform a series of rituals. Some Sadhus who do not make any public appearances throughout the year visit the temple during this period. Besides, this time is also considered auspicious for women praying for fertility and to celebrate the child bearing capabilities of women. All temples across the state remain closed during this period and even agricultural work like digging, plowing and sowing of crops is prohibited. 

The temple doors open on the fourth day and a huge number of devotees rush to get the holy “Prasad” which is small pieces of red coloured cloth assumed to be soaked in the menstrual blood of Goddess Kamakhya and is believed to bring good luck and charm.



Assam is thus called “Land of the Red River” and the Maa Kamakhya Temple with all its inexplicable splendor and picturesque backdrop is one of the most astounding structures, not only in Assam but also in the entire country.


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