Many temples in the region remain closed during the three days. Ploughing fields or cutting earth is forbidden during these three days.
When is Ambubachi Mela Observed?
Ambubachi is also known as ‘Ameti’ or ‘Amoti’. It is the biggest religious congregation in northeast India. The word ‘Ambu’ means water and ‘Vasi’ or ‘Bachi’ means flowing.
The festival is observed during the monsoon season in the month of ‘Ashara’ as per Assamese/ Bengali calender beginning with the seventh day which falls around 21st or 22nd of June of Gregorian Calendar.
It is the time when Sun is in Zodiac of Mithuna and enters into the first Pada of Adra Constellation (but this rarely happens).
The traditional belief is that during this time, the Devi who is worshipped as the Mother Earth enters into the period of her annual mensuration. Ambubachi has a deep rooted connection with ancient agricultural concept which compares that Mother Earth to a fertile woman.
Angavastra of Goddess Ambubachi – The blood stained cloth worn by Goddess
Another important aspect of Ambubachi is the highly regarded Angavastra or the Raktavastra, the piece of red cloth used to cover the Pithasthana of the temple during the first three days.
Devotees in large number wait to get a piece of cloth which is believed to be very auspicious and beneficial if tied onto one’s body.
Other Information – Ambubachi Mela Trivia
- Nearly a million devotees visit the temple during the annual four-day fair.
- Naga Sadhus (naked babas) take part in the rituals. But, they won’t be allowed to mingle with devotees and move around in the main venue. A separate zone is arranged for them in the western part of the temple in the Abhayananda Ashram.
- There will be no procession of Naga Sadhus this year.
- The annual fair attracts devotees from all parts of India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Thousands of foreigners including researchers take part in the mela.
- Five camps are set up for devotees at Naharbari, Bangshibagan, Abhayananda Ashram, Siddheswari temple and Kamakhya Higher Secondary School.
- The entire Nilachal Hills, on which the Kamakhya Temple and a series of other temples are located, has been declared a no-tobacco zone.
- Use of plastic, polythene and other non-biodegradable items have been restricted in the entire Nilachal Hills.
- Over two hundred thousand people will be provided free meals twice a day.
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