Ambubachi and Beyond

As Ambubachi, the annual fertility ritual of the Kamakhya temple, begins on Monday afternoon, it will be pertinent to take a look at its socio-cultural as well as scientific aspects. As is generally accepted, Ambubachi commemorates the yearly menstruation of Mother Goddess Kamakhya, a highly revered deity in Hinduism, symbolising her power of fertility and womanhood. But, at the root of this annual event or festival is the celebration of feminine energy and the creative power of Nature, which, when considered from the sociological point of view, can be seen as a clear challenge of the traditional taboos associated with menstruation, thus recognising it as a natural and powerful biological process. As scholars have pointed out, the Ambubachi festival also symbolizes the earth’s fertility and creative power. Considering the fertility aspect associated with Ambubachi, the festival is also seen as a time for honouring the creative and nurturing powers of Mother Goddess, as well as the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. Taking a look at the Government of Assam website, one finds that Ambubachi means “spoken with water” – this in turn implies that the rain expected during and around the time of this festival makes the earth fertile and ready for procreation. Looking at the sociological aspect, one would find that while daily worship is suspended during this period, farmers across the state refrain from all kinds of agricultural activity like digging, ploughing, sowing, and transplanting of crops. This is a kind of amazing respect for Mother Earth, if seen through the prism of modern environmental science. This way, one can also describe Ambubachi as a celebration of the divine feminine and the creative power associated with it. Simultaneously, it also inspires social awakening by promoting awareness and empowerment of women. The festival at Kamakhya, which sees the convergence of lakhs of devotees and pilgrims from across the subcontinent and beyond, on the other hand, brings together devotees and practitioners from diverse backgrounds, making it a vibrant cultural gathering. And then, the festival also has a significant economic impact on the region, attracting numerous devotees and tourists. In essence, the Ambubachi Mela is a unique and powerful festival that blends spiritual, social, and cultural significance, celebrating the divine feminine and challenging traditional notions about menstruation.