Ambubachi Mela

2021-06-24T14:44:14Z

46.253.36.76:

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{specific|date=November 2011}}
{{Infobox holiday
|type = Hindu
|longtype = Religious, folk
|image =Kamakhya Guwahati.JPG
|caption =[[Kamakhya temple]]
|official_name =
|nickname =
|observedby = [[Hindu]]s
|begins =
|ends =
|duration = 3 days
|frequency = annual
|date = Middle of June
|date2008 =
|date2009 =
|celebrations =
|observances =
|relatedto =
}}

{{Culture of Assam}}

The '''Ambubachi Mela''' ({{IPA|/ˈæmbʊˌbɑ:ʧɪ,ˌæmbʊˈbɑ:ʧɪ ˈmeɪlə, mi:lə/}}) is an annual Hindu [[mela]] held at [[Kamakhya Temple]] in [[Guwahati]], [[Assam]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ambubachi Puja and Mela 2015 at Kamakhya Temple|url=http://www.kamakhyadham.com/ambubachi-puja-and-mela-2015-at-kamakhya-temple/|access-date=19 June 2015}}</ref> This yearly mela is celebrated during the [[monsoon]] season that happens to fall during the Assamese month ''[[Aashaadha|Ahaar]]'', around the middle of June when sun transit to the zodiac of [[Gemini (astrology)|Mithuna]], when the [[Brahmaputra river]] is in spate.<ref name="ab">{{cite web|url=http://www.boloji.com/wfs/wfs082.htm|title=Celebrating The Divine Female Principle|last=Chawla|first=Janet|date=16 September 2002|publisher=Boloji.com|access-date=24 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131031243/http://boloji.com/wfs/wfs082.htm|archive-date=31 January 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="cd">{{cite web|url=http://www.bharatonline.com/assam/fairs/ambubachi-mela.html|title=Ambubachi Fair|publisher=Bharatonline.com|access-date=24 December 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100106141221/http://www.bharatonline.com/assam/fairs/ambubachi-mela.html| archive-date= 6 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="ef">{{cite web|url=http://360degreeworld.com/tantrics-flock-to-mystic-fair-of-assam/|title=A Mystic Festival To Draw Thousands|last=Admin|date=17 September 2009|publisher=360degreeworld.com|access-date=24 December 2009|archive-url=https://archive.is/20091024095248/http://360degreeworld.com/tantrics-flock-to-mystic-fair-of-assam/|archive-date=24 October 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It is the celebration of the yearly [[menstruation]] course of goddess [[Kamakhya]].<ref name="ab" /> It is believed that the presiding goddess of the temple, Devi Kamakhya, the Mother [[Shakti]], goes through her annual cycle of [[menstruation]] during this time stretch.<ref name="cd" /> It is also believed that during the monsoon rains, the creative and nurturing power of the 'menses' of [[Prithvi|Mother Earth]] becomes accessible to devotees at this site during the mela. There is no idol of the presiding deity but she is worshipped in the form of a [[yoni]]-like stone instead over which a natural spring flows.<ref name="ab" /><ref name="cd" />

==Tantric fertility festival==

This mela is also known as '''Ameti''' or '''Tantric fertility festival''' since it is closely associated with Tantric [[Shakti]] cult prevalent in eastern parts of [[India]]. 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 displaying their psychic powers like putting their heads in a pit and stand upright on it, standing on one leg for hours at a stretch.<ref name="ef" />

==The mela==
[[File:Ambubachi Mela by Vikramjit Kakati.jpg|thumb|Gathering of people at Ambubashi Mela at India's Kamakhya Temple]]
The temple remains closed for three days during the mela<ref name="ab" /><ref name="cd" /> for it is believed that the goddess rests for three days like the traditional women's menstrual seclusion. During these three days some restrictions are observed by the devotees like not cooking, not performing puja or reading holy books, no farming etc.<ref name="ab" /> After three days devi Kamakhya is bathed and other rituals are performed to ensure that the devi retrieves her purity.<ref name="cd" /> Then the doors of the temple are reopened<ref name="ab" /><ref name="cd" /><ref name="ef" /> and [[prasad]] is distributed.<ref name="ab" /><ref name="ef" /> On the fourth day the devotees are allowed to enter the temple and worship devi Kamakhya.

===The prasad===
The [[prasad]] is distributed in two forms – Angodak and Angabastra. Angodak literally means the fluid part of the body - water from the spring and Angabastra literally means the cloth covering the body - a piece of the red cloth used to cover the stone [[yoni]] during the days of menstruation.<ref name="ab" />

==Pilgrims==
[[File:Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya Temple by Vikramjit Kakati.jpg|thumb|Sadhus gathered at Kamakhya Temple for the Ambubachi Mela]]
Every year lakhs of pilgrims, starting from ''[[Sadhu]]''s to householders, from all over India, come to Guwahati to observe this festival. They include ''[[Sanyasin]]''s, black clad [[Aghori|Aghora]]s, the ''Khade-baba''s, the ''[[Baul]]'' or singing minstrels of West Bengal, intellectual and folk ''Tantrik''s, ''[[Sadhu]]''s and ''[[Sadhvi]]''s with long matted hair etc.<ref name="ab" /><ref name="ef" /> Even foreigners from abroad come to seek blessings of mother Kamakhya.<ref name="ef" />

==See also==
*[[Assamese Culture]]
*[[Raja Parva]]
*[[Shaktism]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ambubachi Mela}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150619200736/http://www.kamakhyadham.com/ Kamakhya Temple Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100521064311/http://kamakhyamandir.org/culture-and-history/ambubachi-culture/ Ambubachi at Sri Sri Kamakhya Temple: Religious and Socio-Cultural Aspects]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100118072905/http://kamakhyamandir.org/featured/celebrating-ambubachi/ Ambubachi: Celebrating the Menstruation of Mother Earth]

{{Assam Festivals}}

[[Category:Shaktism]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:Festivals in Assam]]
[[Category:Culture of Assam]]
[[Category:June events]]
[[Category:Spring festivals]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]
[[Category:Religion in Assam]]

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Ambubachi Mela