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The Ambubachi Mela is a mass-scale Hindu gathering which takes place every year. This gathering takes place at Kamakhya Mata Temple in Guwahati, Assam. It is usually celebrated in the monsoon season around June. Usually, during this course of time, the sun transitions into the zodiac of Mithoon. It is a celebration every year during the menstrual course of Goddess Kamakhya. There is no idol of the goddess present in the Temple. She is worshipped in the form of stone, also called Yoni, over which a natural spring flows. A large number of pilgrims visit the Temple during these days.
About
The Ambubachi Festival is also referred to as Ameti or Tantrik Fertility Festival. It is perceived that the goddess of the Temple, Devi Kamakhya, the Mother Shakti, goes through her annual cycle during this period. The temple doors are closed for the tenure of three days. It is in close association with Tantrik Shakti, prevalent in eastern parts of India. During this time, the Tantrik people make their appearances for four days. For the rest of the year, they remain in alienation. Some of them are seen displaying their special powers.
The Temple remains closed for three days as it is believed that the Devi wants to rest in seclusion for three days. It is like how traditional women used to stay away from household chores and puja during these days. In the conventional days, the women were not allowed to enter kitchens and perform any tasks. During these three days, various restrictions are imposed on the worshippers, such as not performing any religious activity or reading any holy book, farming, and cooking. They are usually refrained from doing these things during the three days. After three days, Devi is cleansed and bathed with water, and another puja ensures she gains her purity. Finally, the doors of the Temple are opened for the devotees, and Prasad is distributed. On the fourth day, everyone can enter the Temple and worship the Devi. Angodak and Angabastra are two types of prasad distributed to the devotees. The water from the spring is Angodak, which means the body’s liquid part. The other Prasad, known as Angabastra, means the cloth used to cover the body. It is a red piece of cloth that covers the “Yoni” during menstruation.
About the Temple
This Temple is situated at the Nilachal Hill. On the banks of the river Brahmaputra, it is one of the 51 Shakti Peeth of the goddess Sati who was also the wife of Lord Shiva. It is said that the Temple was built by the king Narkasur. However, the official records say that the Koch King Naranarayan built the Temple in 1565.
Ambubachi mela 2020
Ambubachi means spoken with water, and it also implies the monsoon. Many duties come to receive their “Rakta Bastar,” the special Goddess blessings. The priest performs worshipping during this Mela. Ordinary people such as pilgrims, foreigners, and sadhus come to attend this festival. Ambubachi Mela 2020 took place with extra safety and precautions. Entry and stay of the devotees were not allowed because of the covid restrictions. During these trying times, it was for the first time that it didn’t take place at a mass scale. The celebration took place from 22 June 2020 to 26 June 2020. In 2019, almost 25 lakhs devotees bowed down in front of the Devi.
Importance of the Festival
The origins of the Ambubachi notion include formative influences and components of agricultural, social, and religious beliefs, all of which have led to the phenomenon’s growth.
The following are the key aspects of the Ambubachi Mela:
- The Temple is culturally rich because it celebrates the goddess’s menstrual phase and opposes numerous taboos associated with menstruation.
- Menstruation appears to be less taboo in Assam than in India.
- In Assam, girls’ transition to womanhood is marked at a ceremony known as Tuloni Biya, which translates to “little wedding.”
- It is also known as the “Mahakumbh of the East” and attracts visitors from all across the country. As a result, the state’s tourism will benefit greatly.
Conclusion
Also known as Tantric Fertility Festival, it marks the menstruating days of the Goddess Kamakhya. For three days, the Temple remains closed. Ambubachi means Spoken with water. It also refers to rain that will take place during monsoon times. It embarks on the earth’s journey as ready for fertility and procreation. After three days, the Temple is opened. The Devi is purified, and people are allowed to visit the Temple. All the daily household chores are abandoned these days. No one can perform agricultural acts such as digging, sowing, ploughing, crop transplantation, etc. FAQs:
