On the top of the beautiful Nilachal hills in Guwahati, Assam, you will find one of the oldest shakti peeths, the olden Kamakhya temple devoted to tantric goddesses. It is one of the 52 shakti peeths with the main temple devoted to Maa Kamakhya devi.
‘Ambu’ means water and ‘bachi’ means efflorescence. This fest is celebration of the yearly menstruation course of goddess Kamakhya.
During the time of Ambubachi Mela in Guwahati, the doors of the Kamakhya Temple remain closed for three days. Ambubachi Mela is organized at Kamakhya Temple which is said to be ‘birthplace of Earth’. It is one among the oldest 52 shakti peethas of India. According to Kalika Purana each and every sand particle near Kamakhya is a Shakti Peeth.
It is believed that Goddess Kamakhya goes through her yearly menstrual cycle during the Ambubachi days. Hence Ambubachi Mela is planned every year during the monsoon period.
During Ambubachi Mela the temple remains closed for initial three days – the menstruation period. Devotees neither worship nor read holy books. Farmers do not plough the land.
In recent years, security at the temple premises has been beefed up for smooth conducting of the festival. CCTV cameras are installed at the premises.
Importance of Ambubachi Mela
1. It is the festival that celebrates strength of the Female and the power of procreation.
2. It is believed that if you worship at the Kamakhya Temple during this auspicious mela, all your desires are rewarded.
3. You will be blessed with ‘Mokhsa’.
Maa Kamakhya puja
• Kanya Pujan – Invite young girls (below 10yrs of age) as personification of divinity. Serve them foodstuff, new clothes or any other gift.
• Visit Mata’s temple, take part in special Puja which results in well being and wealth.
• Decorate Maa’s idol and place of worship with flora and lights.
• Recite Durga Saptashati. It will help you to conquer all sorts of worries.
• Charity of any kind also pleases Maa.
The Ambubachi mela is closely related to the Tantric cult and is also known as Kamkhya Devi Puja. Devotees come from far off places to meet the Tantric Sadhus and take their blessings. Apart from this, the event is noted for its rural craft fair.
The Prasad
The prasad is distributed in 2 forms – Angodak and Angabastra. Angodak literally means the fluid part of the body – water from the spring and Angabastra literally means the cloth covering the body – a piece of the red cloth used to wrap the stone yoni throughout the days of menstruation.
Every year lakhs of pilgrims, starting from Sadhus to householders, from all over India, come to Guwahati to observe this festival.
No Scientific Proof
Till today, there is no methodical evidence why the water actually turns red. But menstruation is the symbol of a woman’s power to give birth. So, whatever the cause, the Kamakhya temple celebrates this ‘shakti’ or power within every female.
