Kamakhya Temple closes for Ambubasi Mela till June 25

The doors of Kamakhya temple, atop the Nilachal Hill in Guwahati, will remain closed till June 25 due to the 16th century Tantric fertility festival Ambubasi Mela or Amoti as known locally.
Even before the doors closed at 6.10 pm yesterday, devotees, pilgrims, sadhus, sants, sanyasins, tantrics and tourists from across the country and abroad converged on the temple premises to be a part of the Tantric Shakti cult singing hymns, chanting prayers or quietly meditating for the Goddess' blessings.
The most powerful ritual associated with the festival for the people of Sakti and Tantrik cults is of pre-Aryan origin with the people residing then on the Nilachal hill worshipping the Earth as 'Mother Sakti' who provided them food.

The belief is that Goddess Kamakhya goes through her annual menstruation cycle during Amoti and is kept in seclusion with the temple doors closed to public.
No worship or darshan is allowed in the temple along with other Sakti temples across the State during this period, Temple Trust sources said.
Being primarily an agrarian festival, Goddess Kamakhya represents Mother Earth and all agricultural activities are suspended during Ambubasi.

During the three days, no religious rites are performed in the temple and priests and devotees wear red clothes and offer garments of the same colour to Goddess Kamakhya.
The sanctum sanctorum of the temple at the bottom of two chambers has no image but a natural underground stream emanating from a fissure in a rock that symbolises the 'yoni' (private parts) of Lord Shiva's wife Sati.

At this time of the year the water turns red due to iron oxidation resembling menstrual fluids.
According to religious belief and mythology, the temple represents creation as the 'yoni' of Sati which fell at the site of the temple while Lord Shiva performed the 'tandava nritya' after Sati immolated herself.