PTI
GUWAHATI, JUNE 22
Assam Governor P B Acharya has greeted all devotees and pilgrims on the occasion of Ambubachi Mela beginning today at the famed Shakti temple of Kamakhya atop the Nilachal Hills here.
The Governor in a message today appealed to the organising committee, the Kamakhya Debottar Board, the state government and its different committees involved in the Mela, NGOs and all other voluntary organisations involved, to ensure that the festival passes off peacefully.
He urged the devotees, pilgrims and people to help maintain peace, order and discipline during the four-day festival and appealed them to keep the temple premises and all surrounding areas clean and in order.
The Governor further urged the organisers and all authorities concerned to make sure that all pilgrims were provided with proper arrangements so that they can have a safe and comfortable stay during the festival.The Kamakhya temple was closed to devotees from this morning and would reopen on June 26 morning.
Ambubachi Mela, also known as Ambubasi festival, was held annually during the Monsoon in the month of ‘Ahaar’ at the Kamakhya Devi Temple and was believed that Goddess Kamakhya goes through her menstrual cycle during these days and therefore, the temple remains closed for three days.
The Ambubachi festival was related to the Tantric cult and was also known as Ameti or Tantric fertility festival.
It was closely associated with the Tantric Shakti cult prevalent in eastern parts of India and was famed due to the assembling of Tantric Sadhus from India and abroad.
