Guwahati: For the second consecutive year, the annual Ambubachi mela (festival) of Kamakhya temple atop Nilachal Hill has been cancelleddue to Covid-19 pandemic. The four-day festival, recognised as a biggest religious congregation in eastern
Bharat, was scheduled to begin on 22 June. However, necessary rituals will be performed by the selected priests as usual.
The management committee of Kamakhya Devalaya informed that no assembling of saint, devotee or tourists would be entertained at the
temple premises till 30 June. The picturesque temple of Goddess Kamakhya or Kameshwari (Goddess of Desire) on the south bank of mighty
Brahmaputra river remains closed for visitors since 13 May last. Ambubachi (also known as Aamoti or Ambabati) attracts hundred
thousand Hindu pilgrims from various parts of the globe. During the revered festival, the temple’s primary door gets closed for the first
three days. The religious belief narrates that during the period the Mother Earth experiences the annual cycle of menstruation and it is
reflected in Devi Kamakhya’s genital organ (Yoni). No religious performances are organised in this period. The farmers
across the Hindu world avoid cultivating works during the period so that the Earth can get an undisturbed ambience. On the fourth day, the
temple door is reopened after Devi’s ritual-bathing and all devotees throng in for worshipping Devi Kamakhya.
Kamakhya temple, which is recognised as one of sacred 108 Shakti Peeths of Goddess Durga was built by Kamdev (God of Lust) with the
help of God Vishwakarma. According to the Hindu mythology, the demon king Narakasura constructed a stiff stone path (known as Mekhela Ujowa
Poth) connecting the temple from the foothills with an aim to marry Devi Kamakhya.
Muslim convert Kalapahar, the king of Coach Behar in western Assam destroyed the temple in 1553 AD. Maharaja Biswa Singh later repaired
it in the seventeenth century. The king Nar Narayan, who ascended to the throne of Coach Behar after his father Biswa Singh’s demise,
constructed the upper portion of the temple with the help of his brother Mahabir Chilarai.
Kalika Purana, an ancient work in Sanskrit describes Kamakhya as the deity to fulfil the desires of devotees. The temple does not contain
any image or statue of Kamakhya. Rather a sculptured image of Yoni of the Goddess in a cave is seen inside the main temple. A natural
spring believes to keep the stone always moist. Devotees with all purity touch the silk cloth draped stone and offer Bilwa Patra
(belpaat) and flowers on it.
