Guwahati, June 16 (IANS) Preparations are in full swing at the revered Kamakhya Temple for the annual Ambubachi Mela, one of the largest and most significant religious gatherings in eastern India, scheduled to commence on June 22.

According to temple authorities on Tuesday, the ritual observance will begin with the ‘Pravritti’ at 9:08:42 p.m. on June 22, marking the onset of the sacred period associated with the annual menstruation of Goddess Kamakhya.

Following the commencement of the ritual, the doors of the temple will remain closed for three days, during which no devotees will be allowed to enter the sanctum. The temple will reopen on the morning of June 26 after the completion of the customary Nitya Puja, allowing devotees to offer prayers and receive blessings.

Authorities at the shrine have said that extensive arrangements are being made to welcome the large influx of pilgrims, sadhus, and tourists expected from across the country and abroad.

The Ambubachi Mela is regarded as one of the most important festivals linked to Shakti worship in India. The festival celebrates the fertility of Mother Earth and is centred on the belief that Goddess Kamakhya, revered as the embodiment of feminine creative power, undergoes her annual menstrual cycle during this period.

Located atop the Nilachal Hills in Guwahati, the Kamakhya Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and holds immense religious significance among Hindu devotees, particularly followers of Tantric traditions.

During the three-day observance, religious rituals are suspended, and the temple remains closed, symbolising the seclusion observed during the Goddess’s menstruation.

When the temple doors reopen, devotees throng the shrine to receive the sacred ‘Angodak’ and ‘Angabastra’, considered highly auspicious among worshippers.

Every year, the Ambubachi Mela attracts lakhs of pilgrims, ascetics, and spiritual seekers, transforming Guwahati into a major hub of religious activity.

With the countdown to this year’s festival underway, the temple administration and state authorities are gearing up to ensure a smooth and orderly conduct of the grand event.

–IANS

tdr/dpb