GUWAHATI: Thousands of devotees from different parts of the country have arrived in Guwahati for the annual Ambubachi Mela, with the Bhootnath cremation ground witnessing a massive gathering of pilgrims, including sadhus, tantriks, and aghoris, ahead of the closure of the Kamakhya Temple.
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The influx of devotees has intensified as the sacred Ambubachi Mahayog is set to commence at 9:08:43 PM on Monday, June 22. Following the commencement of the rituals, the doors of the Kamakhya Temple will remain closed for three days and are scheduled to reopen on the morning of June 26.
To accommodate the large number of pilgrims, the administration and mela authorities have set up two major camps—one behind Kamakhya Railway Station and another at Pandu Port. The camps are equipped with essential facilities, including sanitation services, drinking water, bedding arrangements, and community kitchens (bhandaras) for devotees.
Meanwhile, temple authorities will conduct a continuous Mahayajna from June 23 to June 25, with the main ceremonial observances scheduled for June 26 following the reopening of the shrine.
Ambubachi Mela is considered one of the most important festivals associated with Shakti worship. The annual observance marks the believed menstrual cycle of Goddess Kamakhya and is regarded by devotees as a celebration of the creative and nurturing power of the divine feminine.