STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The annual Ambubachi Mela 2025 — one of the most spiritually significant and symbolically powerful events in eastern India — will begin today at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. The Mela, which venerates the goddess’ menstruation cycle as a sacred and divine occurrence, will be observed from June 22 to June 26.
The spiritual rituals will commence at 8:43 AM with Snan (sacred bathing) and Nitya Puja (daily worship). The temple will close its doors to devotees at 2:56 PM on Sunday with the onset of ‘Pravritti’ — the symbolic beginning of Goddess Kamakhya’s annual menstrual cycle. During this period, no public rituals or worship are conducted, as the goddess is believed to be resting.
The sanctum will remain shut until the morning of June 26, when the cycle concludes with ‘Nivritti’. On that day, the temple will undergo ritual cleansing and traditional bathing of the deity, followed by a grand reopening to the public and marked by fanfare, offerings, and collective prayers.
In a significant gesture highlighting the cultural importance of the event, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma is scheduled to inaugurate the Ambubachi Mahayog at 6:30 PM on June 22 at Pandu Port, where temporary rest camps and facilities have been set up to accommodate thousands of pilgrims arriving from across India. While menstruation continues to be surrounded by stigma and restrictive practices in many parts of the country, Kamakhya Temple stands as a unique space where menstruation is venerated rather than hidden. Rooted in Tantric traditions, the Mela emphasises themes of fertility, regeneration, and the divine feminine, turning what is often treated as taboo into a public celebration of womanhood and nature’s cycle.
Large crowds are expected in Guwahati during the four-day event. In anticipation, authorities have enforced strict traffic regulations, parking restrictions, and security arrangements to ensure safety and smooth movement of pilgrims. The Ambubachi Mela not only draws lakhs of devotees but also serves as a profound social and spiritual message — affirming that menstruation is not a source of shame but a divine symbol of creation and life.
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