One of Assam’s most anticipated annual festivals is the colorful Ambubachi Mela. Located in Guwahati, the Kamakhya Temple hosts this festival. It is a unique celebration that marks Goddess Kamakhya’s menstrual yearly cycle. Ambubachi Mela 2024 date and time is scheduled for June 22-26. Let’s go through all there is to know about this extraordinary pilgrimage using the below detailed guidance.
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Ambubachi Mela Date and Time
In 2024, the divine congregation will commence on June 22 through 24th, and the temple will be inaccessible. Doors will swing open again on June 25, welcoming visitors warmly.
Culminating on June 26, these auspicious dates mark your chance to participate in the evocative festival. During these sacred days, the temple is closed to everyone except the priests. Each day has its rituals and events lined up.
- June 22 kicks off the mela with changing flags at the entrance. Devotees gather in large numbers.
- From the 23rd to the 25th, special prayers are held as Goddess Kamakhya is believed to be in her menstrual cycle. Her sacred stone is covered with red cloth during this time.
- On the last day, June 26, there are closing ceremonies after the flag is changed once more. People bid farewell after the mesmerizing festival ends.
Significance and Stories of Ambubachi Mela
The Ambubachi Mela holds profound religious importance for devotees of Goddess Kamakhya. As per faith, the Goddess undergoes her natural monthly phases during this period. In Hindu theology, the yoni or womb symbolizes active female creative power. It represents Mother Nature’s cyclical life-giving and nurturing powers.
The origin of this festival is associated with some interesting myths and stories.
One story goes that once upon a time, Lord Shiva sat for meditation on a mountain. Sati, his wife, was unable to find him and, therefore, jumped into a yajna fire where they were sacrificed. After some time, he began to dance with Sati’s lifeless form across his shoulder in the dance of tremendous sorrow. Her body parts fell in different places as he danced, later becoming famous Shakti peeth temples. Her yoni fell at Kamakhya hill, making it a powerful Shakti peeth.
Another story mentions Sati’s jalatharup, or fiery and ferocious manifestation, emerged from her yoni. Shiva then used his trident to cut and scatter the jalatharup into 51 parts. These parts landed at different Shakti peeth temples. The spot where her principal yoni fell is believed to be Kamakhya Temple.
It is also believed that the underground natural water spring at the temple symbolizes the yoni of the Goddess. Every year during the monsoon season, the water flow from the spring increases, representing the menses of Mother Earth.
So, the Ambubachi mela celebrates the cyclical and creative power of feminine energy as symbolized by the legend and tales associated with the temple. It honors the free-flowing motherly spirit of nature.
Tickets and Accommodation for Ambubachi Mela
For the four days of the Assam festivals, the temple is usually not open to the public; however, special poojas and rituals occur inside its precincts. That’s why thousands of pilgrims and tourists come to Guwahati in Assam every year for this unique celebration. That is why it is essential to allocate resources regarding tickets and places to stay early enough. Here are some critical points in this regard:
- Entry tickets for tourists and devotees are issued only at the limited darshan times from June 23 to June 26. Entry is strictly regulated by police and temple authorities.
- Tickets can be booked online in advance on the official temple website or directly from authorized travel agents and counters near the temple.
- Government and private organizations set up budget accommodations like dormitories and tents near the temple premises. These need to be booked 2-3 months in advance.
- Good quality hotels, resorts, and lodges in Guwahati and nearby get fully booked as the dates are near. Travelers need to reserve well ahead. Homestay and village stays are also good options for accommodation during Ambubachi Mela.
- Assam Tourism offers remarkable tour packages for pilgrims from distant places, covering travel, accommodation, darshan tickets, and local guides during the dates.
How to reach Kamakhya Temple in Assam
The Nilachal Hill temple is situated in Guwahati, Assam. Here are the primary transportation details to reach there:
- By Train: Guwahati Railway Station has good train connectivity. Board a bus or auto for the temple 10-12 km away.
- By Road: State-run and private buses ply regularly to Guwahati bus stands from all over Assam and other northeast states.
- Local Transport: Take the hop-on hop-off city bus or three-wheelers available nearby to reach the temple hill directly.
Rituals, Pujas and Festive Atmosphere
As popularly known, Kamakhya temple is one of the richest temples in India. The ambiance and energetic vibe in the Hindu pilgrimage during the mela are incredible. Along with lakhs of devotees, special rituals and celebrations take place non-stop for four days:
- On the opening day, the temple flag is changed, and a ceremonial procession is taken out with traditional band, music, and dance performances marking the arrival of the holy period.
- The main rituals from day two onwards involve daily prayers, yagna, and Homam offerings to the covered idol of the presiding Goddess. Mantras, shlokas, and bhajans are chanted day and night.
- Mass feeding or bhandara prasad is distributed freely to thousands of pilgrims daily. Various stalls selling traditional handicrafts, clothes, and Assam cuisine add to the vibrant festive mood.
- Snake worship is an integral part of the rituals. Devotees pray and offer milk to the live snakes, considered manifestations of the Goddess.
- Symbolic weddings and nuptial ceremonies are also held in the temple, honoring the divine union of Shiva-Shakti.
- Finally, on the last day, the temple flag is changed back, and the closing aarti amidst dancing, singing, and celebrations marks the conclusion of this unique spiritual kamakhya festival.
Overall, the divine energy and positive vibrations flowing during the ambubachi mela days at Assam make it a wonderful experience for visitors of all ages. The magnificent location, lively rituals, and warm hospitality add more charm.