Guwahati, June 24: The world-renowned Ambubachi Mela has commenced at the sacred Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam, drawing an overwhelming number of devotees, sadhus, and ascetics from across India and abroad. The annual religious gathering, held at the historic temple atop the Nilachal Hills, is considered one of the most significant festivals associated with Shakti worship and Tantric traditions.
Despite the closure of the temple’s sanctum sanctorum from Monday night as part of the customary rituals observed during the Ambubachi period, large crowds of pilgrims gathered at the temple premises from the very first day of the festival. Thousands of devotees undertook a long barefoot journey through the hilly terrain to reach the shrine and seek the blessings of Goddess Kamakhya.
To manage the heavy influx of visitors, security personnel and the district administration have implemented extensive crowd-control measures. Devotees are being allowed entry and exit in regulated batches to ensure smooth movement within the temple complex. Temple authorities have also restricted visitors to a single circumambulation of the shrine, with volunteers guiding pilgrims through designated exit routes after completing their prayers.
The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has undertaken special arrangements to assist devotees, including regular water sprinkling along the hill roads to keep the pathways cool and comfortable. Carpets have been laid at several locations, while sanitation workers are continuously engaged in maintaining cleanliness throughout the festival area.
The temple complex has also witnessed the arrival of thousands of saints, ascetics, and Naga sadhus representing various akharas from different parts of the country. Religious camps have been established around the shrine, where spiritual discourses, meditation sessions, tantric practices, and traditional rituals are being conducted. A large contingent from the Shri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhara is among those participating in the event.
The Ambubachi Mela, often referred to as the “Mahakumbh of the East,” is observed annually to mark the divine feminine power associated with Goddess Kamakhya. Every year, the festival attracts lakhs of devotees who gather at one of India’s most revered Shakti Peethas to offer prayers and participate in the unique spiritual traditions of the occasion.
