Ambubachi Mela
ambubachi mela ˈæmbʊˌbɑʧɪˌ æmbʊˈbɑʧɪ ˈmeɪlə milə annual hindu mela gathering held kamakhya temple guwahati assam yearly mela celebrated monsoon season happens fall assamese month ahaar around middle june sun transit zodiac mithuna brahmaputra river spate time brahmaputra river near temple turn red three day ambubachi mela celebration yearly menstruation course goddess kamakhya believed presiding goddess temple devi kamakhya mother shakti go annual cycle menstruation time stretch also believed monsoon rain creative nurturing power menses mother earth becomes accessible devotee site mela idol presiding deity worshipped form yonilike stone instead natural spring flow mela also known ameti tantric fertility festival since closely associated tantric shakti cult prevalent eastern part india even tantric baba make public appearance four day rest year remain seclusion baba seen displaying psychic power like putting head pit stand upright standing one leg hour stretch temple remains closed three day mela believed goddess kamakhya rest three day like traditional womens menstrual seclusion three day restriction observed devotee like cooking performing puja reading holy book farming etc three day goddess bathed ritual performed ensure goddess kamakhya back original form door temple reopened prasad distributed fourth day devotee allowed enter temple worship devi kamakhya prasad distributed two form – angodak angabastra angodak literally mean fluid part body water spring angabastra literally mean cloth covering body piece red cloth used cover yoni rock fissure day menstruation every year lakh pilgrim starting sadhu householder india come guwahati observe festival include sanyasins black clad aghoras khadebabas baul singing minstrel west bengal intellectual folk tantriks sadhu sadhvis long matted hair etc even foreigner abroad come seek blessing mother kamakhya assamese culture raja parva shaktism kamakhya temple website ambubachi sri sri kamakhya temple religious sociocultural aspect ambubachi celebrating menstruation mother earth