Ambubachi Mela 2025 Begins at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati: Devotees Gather for the Sacred Festival of Shakti

Ambubachi Mela 2025 Begins at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati: Devotees Gather for the Sacred Festival of Shakti (image: PTI)

Guwahati, Assam: The sacred and spiritually significant Ambubachi Mela 2025 commenced on Sunday, June 22, at the revered Kamakhya Temple atop the Nilachal Hills in Guwahati. Celebrated annually, this four-day religious event draws thousands of devotees, sadhus, and spiritual seekers from across India and abroad, all gathering to worship Maa Kamakhya, one of the most powerful Shakti goddesses in Hinduism.

What is Ambubachi Mela?

The Ambubachi Mela is considered one of the most important Shakti festivals in India, symbolising the annual menstruation cycle of Goddess Kamakhya. The event marks the divine feminine energy and honours the fertility and creative power of the goddess. It is believed that during this period, the Earth becomes spiritually fertile, and therefore, no agricultural activity is undertaken during the days of observance.

Temple Rituals and Timings

The festival began with the Ambubachi Prabritti rituals, after which the main doors of the Kamakhya Temple were ceremoniously closed on June 22. The temple will reopen on June 26, when darshan (sacred viewing) will resume and prasad distribution begins.

During these four days, entry into the temple is restricted, symbolising the goddess’s time of seclusion. Devotees observe spiritual practices such as fasting, meditation, and prayer during this time.

Pilgrimage and Management

The Kamakhya Devalaya Committee and Kamrup (Metro) District Administration have made comprehensive arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Mela. These include security, crowd management, sanitation, and free facilities for the devotees. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma extended warm wishes via social media, saying, “Today marks the beginning of the #Ambubachi Mahayog, an annual celebration of Maa Kamakhya’s divine femininity. I welcome all pilgrims to Assam and wish everyone a divine experience and the choicest blessings of Maa Kamakhya.”

Significance of Kamakhya Temple

Located just 7 km from Guwahati, the Kamakhya Temple is one of the oldest and most revered Shakti Peethas in India. Known as the centre of Tantric worship, the temple holds immense spiritual importance. Apart from Ambubachi, other significant rituals performed here include Durga Puja, Manasa Puja, Pohan Biya, and Vasanti Puja.

Ambubachi is not just a fair; it is a spiritual confluence of devotion, divine energy, and cultural heritage. Pilgrims, ascetics, and gurus from across India make their annual journey to Guwahati, reinforcing the temple’s status as a spiritual epicentre of the divine feminine.