Ambubachi Mela 2025: Dates, rituals, and cultural significance

If you are someone planning to visit Assam in June, then the annual Ambubachi Mela is one of the significant events you must attend. Ambubachi Mela is one of the most-awaited times of the year in India. The whole country waits for this unique festival to begin to seek the blessings of Kamakhaya Devi in Assam. This vibrant annual Hindu festival is held at the Kamakhya Temple in Assam every year and celebrates the menstruation period of the goddess Kamakhya, symbolizing fertility and creation. The whole festival revolves around an important natural process in women 'Menstruation'. The natural phenomenon continues to be shrouded in stigma and restrictive behaviour in many parts of India, but there is one region that bucks the trend in the strongest possible way with worship. In Assam, menstruation isn’t shunned—it’s celebrated and revered. This unique perspective is embodied in the Ambubachi Mela, an annual festival held at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. Here, the natural cycle of a woman’s body is honoured as divine, standing in stark contrast to the silence and stigma it often faces in other parts of the world.Situated on the Nilachal Hill in Guwahati, Assam, the Kamakhya Temple is a grand representation of divine feminine and spiritual power. One of the 51 Shakti Peethas, this holy place attracts millions of devotees from all over the globe. Its most important festival is the Ambubachi Mela, an ancient and distinctive festival that celebrates the menstruation of Goddess Kamakhya. The 2025 festival will be a grand celebration of devotion, tradition, and cultural liveliness from June 22 to June 26."Ambubachi" roughly translates to "spoken with water," referring to both the monsoon and the menstruation of the goddess. The festival celebrates the yearly menstruation cycle of Goddess Kamakhya. It has its origins in Tantric mythology and tradition, representing Earth's fertility and creative potency. Legend has it that the yoni (womb) of Goddess Sati fell here during Shiva's Tandava dance. The festival gives respect for fertility, rebirth, and the protective forces of nature. Historically, it was also a period when agricultural activities came to a standstill.Ambubachi is not just a festival; it is a recognition of a natural biological phenomenon. The goddess's menstruation has been considered as a sign of creation, care, and change. The divine power is considered to be focused inside the temple during this time.Also See: Puri Rath Yatra 2025: Key details on traffic advisory, rules, and security measuresThe Ambubachi Mela 2025 will be held between June 22 and June 26. It starts at 8:43 AM on June 22 with the start of Snan (sacred bathing) and Nitya Puja (daily worship). The temple is closed to all people during these days since the goddess marks her menstruation period. The closing represents a time of rest, cleansing, and respect for the divine cycle.The temple will reopen at 3:19 AM on June 26, after the completion of the Nribritti ritual and daily puja. The doors remain closed to devotees from June 22 until this time.On June 26, the temple is cleansed, and the devotees are allowed to enter again. The re-entry is celebrated with fanfare, offerings, and prayers.Attendees can anticipate a vibrant mix of spirituality, cultural festivities, and community gatherings. The atmosphere around Kamakhya Temple during the festival is charged with devotion, chanting, incense, and traditional music. Devotees, sadhus, tantriks, and curious visitors from across India and beyond converge here, creating a melting pot of cultures and faiths.In Assam, the mindset regarding menstruation is more liberal than in much of India, where taboos result in prohibition and shaming. The festival's commemoration of "Rakta Bastar" (the goddess's blood) speaks to the festival's theme of respect for feminine power.Both women and men are allowed to come and participate in the celebration, which is a reminder of the universal nature of feminine power and spiritual awakening.This centuries-old custom, now also known as the "Mahakumbh of the East," beckons all to ponder the cycle of birth, rebirth, and holiness of natural existence. As the countdown begins, set your calendars for June 22-26, 2025, and soak in the spiritual magnificence and cultural diversity of Ambubachi. It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see a deep celebration bring forth natural biological functions to a higher plane.