Thousands
Throng
Kamakhya Temple on Ambubachi Festival
GUWAHATI:
Thousands of devotees and holy men from across
the country assembled at a temple in Guwahati to
hold special prayers to please Goddess Kamakhya.
The festival is celebrated to mark the menstruation
period of the goddess during which the sanctum sanctorum
of the shrine remains closed to worshippers.
An estimaed 200,000 devotees are expected to visit
the temple during the four-day festiva
l
which began on Sunday. Nepal king Gyanendra, who
is arriving in New Delhi on Sunday for a five-day
visit, is also scheduled to visit the temple on
June 27.
Holy men and widows observe fast and refrain from
eating non-vegetarian food during the ambubachi
fair. The temple, atop a hill on the banks of the
Brahmaputra, is dedicated to goddess Kamakhya, consort
of Lord Shiva. The idol of goddess Kamakhya inside
the temple is represented by a female fertility
symbol. It is believed that prayers made during
this time please the goddess and is an auspicious
time to attain spiritual well-being.
"The reverance of Goddess Kamakhya brings wish fulfilment.
During this time when she menstruates we hold prayers,"
said a holy man visiting the temple.
Legend has it that the body of goddess Shakti was
divided into 51 pieces and that the temple is the
"yoni peeth" (seat of female fertility). The festival
is attended by both Vaishnavites as well as Shaivaites.
Vaishnavites are vegetarians while Shaivaites eat
meat and indulge in smoking and drinking. Members
of both the sects do not communicate with anyone
during the fasting period. After the fourth day
when they break their fast, the holy men as well
as devotees mingle freely and celebrate by smearing
colours on each other. They mostly dress up in red
which is considered sacred.
The Ambubachi fair concludes on June 26
