What is Ambubachi Mela?

About Ambubachi Mela:

• Where: It is an annual Hindu fair held at the historic Kamakhya Temple.
• When: It is celebrated during the monsoon season that happens to fall during the Assamese month Ahaar, around the middle of June.
• Occasion: It is the celebration of the yearly menstruation course of goddess Maa Kamakhya.
• Other names: This mela is also known as Ameti or Tantric fertility festival since it is closely associated with Tantric Shakti cult prevalent in eastern parts of India.

Key facts about Kamakhya temple:

• Location: It is situated on Nilachal Hill and adjoining the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati,
• It is one of the most revered centres of Tantric practices.
• It is regarded as one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India.
• Temple Architecture:
  • It had been modelled out of a combination of two different styles namely, the traditional nagara or North Indian and Saracenic or Mughal style of architecture.
  • This unusual combination has been named the Nilachala Style of Architecture.
  • This is the only temple of Assam having a fully developed ground plan.
  • It consists of five chambers, garbhagriha or sanctuary, antarala or vestibule, Jagan Mohan or principal chamber, bhogmandir or ritual chamber and natmandir or opera hall for performing traditional dance and music associated with sukti temples.
  • It is interesting to note that the superstructure of each of the above chambers exhibits different architectural features.
  • While the main temple contains a modified Saracenic dome, the antarala carries a two-roofed design, the bhogmandir (also called pancharatna) with five domes similar in appearance to the main temple and the natmandir having a shell-roof with apsidal end similar to some of the impermanent namghars or prayer halls found in Assam.

 

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Q1) Where is Kamakhya temple located?

It is situated on Nilachal Hill and adjoining the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati. It is one of the most revered centres of Tantric practices. It is regarded as one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India.

Source: Ambubachi mela: Three camps set up for devotees