No Ambubachi Mela At Guwahati's Kamakhya Temple This Year Due To Covid-19

Ambubachi Mela is an annual religious fair where lakhs of devotees converge from all over the country and abroad, usually held during the second fortnight of June.

(File Photo/ Getty)

Ambubachi Mela 2021: In view of the prevailing Covid pandemic situation, the annual religious congregation called Ambubachi Mela, at the famous Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati city has been canceled for the second consecutive year.

This is an annual religious fair where lakhs of devotees converge from all over the country and abroad, usually held during the second fortnight of June.

In view of the cancellation of Ambubachi Mela, the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup Metropolitan district, Biswajeet Pegu has prohibited entry and lodging of any outside devotee in the greater complex of Kamakhya Temple.

The city police commissioner has been directed to ensure that except for the permanent residents of Nilachal Hills where the ancient temple is perched on, no outsiders including devotees should be allowed entry into the area during the Ambubachi Mela period.

The head priest of Kamakhya Temple has been directed to take all measures to prevent the entry of visitors/ devotees inside the temple premises during the period.

Kabindra Prasad Sarma, who is the head priest of the temple (Doloi), informed that the Ambubachi Mela this year will be observed behind the doors and only the rituals will be performed in the temple from June 22 and will continue till June 25.

“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, last year’s Ambubachi Mela was also not organized in a proper manner. The doors of the temple will remain closed for devotees till June 30,” Sarma said.

Located atop the Nilachal Hills, Kamakhya temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths in the country. The Ambubachi Mela is an annual fair that is held at the temple premises is the celebration of the annual mensuration course of the goddess Maa Kamakhya. This celebration attracts lakhs of devotees and pilgrims from all corners of the globe. This is a significant source of revenue for the temple and the state as well.

The Ambubachi Mela is a vital festival in eastern India. Every year, the temple remains closed for three days in the belief that the annual menstrual cycle of Goddess Kamakhya falls during this period.

During these three days, some restrictions are observed by the devotees like not cooking, not performing puja, or reading holy books. After three days Devi Kamakhya is took bath and other rituals are performed to ensure that Devi retrieves her purity. Then the doors of the temple are reopened.

On the fourth day, the devotees are allowed to enter the temple and worship Devi Kamakhya.

This Mela is also known as Ameti or Tantric fertility festival since it is closely associated with the Tantric Shakti cult prevalent in the eastern parts of the country. Even some Tantric Babas make their public appearances only during these four days. The rest of the year, they remain in seclusion. Some Babas are seen performing their psychic powers like putting their heads in a pit and stand upright on it, standing on one leg for hours at a stretch, etc.

The occasion witnesses around 25 lakh footfalls from all over the country and abroad. They include Sannyasins, black-clad Aghoras, the Khade-babas, the Baul or singing minstrels of West Bengal, intellectual and folk Tantriks, Sadhus and Sadhvis with long matted hair, etc. Even foreigners from abroad come to seek the blessings of mother Kamakhya.