Thousands throng Kamakhya temple on Ambubachi festival

NET News Network

Guwahati, June 21: Thousands of devotees and holy men and women from across the country assembled at the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati to hold special prayers to please Goddess Kamakhya. The festival is celebrated to mark the menstruation period of the goddess during which the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine remains closed to worshippers. 

An estimated more than 500,000 devotees from all over the country as well as from abroad are expected to visit the temple during the four-day festival which would began from Monday midnight at around 2:29 am.  

Last year more than 300,000 lakh devotees, including pilgrims from Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh visited Kamakhya during the Mela.  

Meanwhile, five control centres had been opened to provide information and help to the pilgrims. Security arrangements had also been intensified in and around the temple. 

Only government vehicles and vehicles related to temple authority would be allowed to travel from foothills to Kamakhya temple. Special commandoes have been posted across the Nilachal temple to maintain round he vigil. 

Guwahati Municipal Corporation and Temple authorities have taken special care maintain cleanliness and hygiene during the mela period. GMC has erected 200 temporary toilets for the devotees whereas Temple authorities have hired more than 80 persons to keep the temple premises clean.     

Holy men and widows observe fast and refrain from eating non-vegetarian food during the Ambubachi fair. The temple, atop a hill on the banks of the Brahmaputra, is dedicated to goddess Kamakhya, consort of Lord Shiva. The idol of goddess Kamakhya inside the temple is represented by a female fertility symbol. It is believed that prayers made during this time please the goddess and is an auspicious time to attain spiritual well-being. 

“The reverance of Goddess Kamakhya brings wish fulfilment. During this time when she menstruates we hold prayers," said a holy man visiting the temple. 

Legend has it that the body of goddess Shakti was divided into 51 pieces and that the temple is the "yoni peeth" (seat of female fertility). Both Vaishnavites as well as Shaivaites attend the festival. Vaishnavites are vegetarians while Shaivaites eat meat and indulge in smoking and drinking. Members of both the sects do not communicate with anyone during the fasting period. After the fourth day when they break their fast, the holy men as well as devotees mingle freely and celebrate by smearing colours on each other. They mostly dress up in red, which is considered sacred.