One of the most revered and largest festivals in Eastern India, the four-day Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam, began on Saturday with devotees and tourists flocking in droves from all corners of the country and beyond, solidifying its status as a significant cultural and religious occasion in the region.

The Mela is not just a religious gathering but a vibrant celebration that symbolises fertility and womanhood  with cultural fervor, revolving around Goddess Kamakhya who is revered to be one of the most important Shakti Peethas among the 51 in the country.

During these four days, worship is suspended, and the temple doors remain closed on the beliefs that the goddess undergoes her annual menstrual cycle, symbolizing fertility and the renewal of life.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X in Hindi, welcomed the devotees to the mela. "On the occasion of Ambubachi Mela, I welcome the sandhus and devotees," he wrote. Local authorities and organizers make extensive preparations to ensure the mela is conducted smoothly and safely.Likewise, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority posted, “Ambubachi Mela holds great spiritual significance as Kamakhya Temple is considered to be one of the most important Shakti Peeths among the 51 in India.”“During the period of Ambubachi from the seventh to the tenth day of the Hindu month of "Asadha", the doors of the shrine are closed to all as it is believed that Goddess Kamakhya goes through the annual cycle of menstruation. On the twelfth day, the doors are opened ceremonially and a big fair is held at the temple premises on that day,” as per the website of the Assam Government’s Department of Tourism.."Ambubachi" means spoken with water and it also implies that the rains expected during this month make the earth fertile and ready for procreation.

Daily worship is suspended during this period. All agricultural work like digging, ploughing, sowing, and transplanting of crops are forbidden, the website further said.Widows, Brahmacharis and Brahmins avoid cooked food during these days.

On the fourth day, Ambubachi is over, household items, utensils and clothes are washed, cleaned and purified by sprinkling sacred waters, worship of Goddess Kamakhya begins after cleansing and other rituals are performed. Entry to the Shrine is considered to be auspicious after this.