Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati – Festivals

Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati – Festivals

Being the centre for Tantra worship this temple attracts thousands of tantra devotees in an annual festival known as the Ambubachi Mela. Other famous festivals are Manasha Puja and Durga Puja.

Durga Puja:

Durga Puja is held during October-November every year at Kamakhya Temple. This is a Five-Day Festival which attracts several thousands of visitors. Durga Puja at Kamakhya temple is celebrated without an idol of goddess Durga in Durga Pandal. Since Durga is believed to be an incarnation of goddess Kamakhya, it is not required to install separate Durga idol here. An image of Durga is drawn on a layer of clay and is immersed in the Brahmaputra on Dashami. People of Kamakhya believe that Durga Puja at Kamakhya is the oldest in Assam has was celebrated from time immemorial when worshipping of the goddess began.

Ambubachi Mela:

Ambubachi Mela is one of the biggest congregations of eastern India. It is the most important festival of the Kamakhya temple and is celebrated in the month of June every year. It is more of a ritual of austerities, a festival celebrated with Shakti rites. The belief is that Kamakhya embodies the mother cult, the Shakti. During the period of Ambubachi from the seventh to the tenth day of the Hindu month of "Ashadha", the doors of the shrine are closed to all as it is believed that Goddess Kamakhya goes through the annual cycle of menstruation. On the twelfth day, the doors are opened ceremonially, and a big fair held at the temple premises on that day.

Ambubachi means spoken with water and it also implies that the rains expected during this month make the earth fertile and ready for procreation. Daily worship is suspended during this period. All agricultural work like digging, ploughing, sowing, and transplanting of crops are forbidden. Widows, Brahma Charis and Brahmins avoid cooked food during these days. On the fourth day, Ambubachi being over, household items, utensils and clothes are washed, cleaned and purified by sprinkling sacred waters, worship of Goddess Kamakhya begins after cleansing and other rituals are performed. Entry to the Shrine is considered to be auspicious after this. 

The concept of Ambubachi thus has in its origin, formative influences and elements of agricultural, social and religious ideas that have contributed to the emergence of the phenomenon. It is thus symbolic supported by religious sanction. During the annual Ambubachi Mela, the Temple precincts are closed to the worshippers as it is believed that the Goddess, along with the Earth, goes through her menstrual cycle. During this festival held in the month of June (the seventh day of Ahar according to the Hindu lunar calendar), during the height of the rainy season, the red hematite present in the soil mixes with the water of the natural spring that moistens the yoni, leading credence to the commonly held belief of a menstruating Goddess.

This is a 4-Day Festival, when visitors from all corner of country arrive here to have a glimpse of the Goddess at the end of 4 Days. These include Sannyasins, black clad Aghoras, the Khade-babas, the Baul or singing minstrels of West Bengal, intellectual and folk Tantriks, Sadhus and Sadhvis with long matted hair etc. Even foreigners from abroad come to seek blessings of mother Kamakhya.

Pohan Biya:

Pohan Biya is a symbolic marriage between Lord Kameshwar and Goddess Kameshwari during month of puh (January).

Durgadeul:

During the month of Phalguna, Durgadeul is observed in Kamakhya. 

Vasanti Puja: 

This puja is held at Kamakhya temple in the month of Chaitra.

Madandeul: 

This Deul is observed during the month of Chaitra when Lord Kamadeva and Kamesvara is offered special puja.

Manasa Puja:

Manasa Puja is observed with Sankranti or Sravana and continues up to the second day of Bhadra.