- The annual four-day Ambubachi Mela is being held at Amingaon near Guwahati,Assam.
- Ambubachi Mela is a festival to mark the annual menstruation of the goddess which is held at Kamakhya temple.
- The Ambubachi Mela symbolises the fertility cult of goddess Kamakhya. There is no idols in the temple,the goddess is worshipped in the form of a yoni-like stone over which a natural spring flows.
- Also known as Siddha Kubjika,the goddess is a Hindu tantric goddess of desire who evolved in the Himalayan hills.She is also identified as Kali and Maha Tripura.
- The festival is also known as ‘Mahakumbh of the East’ as it draws lakhs of devotees from all over the world.Ambubachi Mela is also considered as an occasion to promote awareness on menstrual hygiene.
- This ritualistic fair is one of the reasons why the taboo associated with menstruation is less in Assam compared with other parts of India.
- The Kamakhya Temple also known as Kamrup-Kamakhya temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the mother goddess Kamakhya.It is one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Pithas.
Reflection of faith
7 min read