Guwahati: When the Ambubachi Mela ended on Friday, the Kamakhya temple settled into silence. The chants of sadhus and aghoris at the Juna Akhada, the blare of horns, the steady beat of damrus, and the haze of havan smoke ebbed as the sanctum sanctorum reopened after three days of ritual seclusion, leaving the sacred hill to await next year’s gathering.The sanctum sanctorum was closed at 9.08pm on Monday and opened on Friday morning. Ambubachi Mahayog, popularly known as Ambubachi Mela, is observed to mark the annual menstruation cycle of Goddess Kamakhya. During this time, thousands of sadhus and aghoris arrive on the temple premises for tantric practice and meditation, while devotees throng the temple seeking blessings of the goddess. The doors were opened for devotees following the daily rituals and holy bath of the goddess.Tourism minister Ajanta Neog said 7,96,777 devotees, including 75 international pilgrims, attended the Ambubachi mela this year, reaffirming its place as one of India’s most revered spiritual destinations.“Ambubachi is more than a festival — it is a celebration of faith, spirituality, harmony and the timeless Indian value of ‘atithi devo bhava’. It continues to strengthen Assam’s identity as a global destination for spiritual tourism,” the minister added.The minister commended all the govt departments, security agencies, volunteers, temple authorities and partner organisations for dedicated and coordinated efforts ensuring the smooth and successful conduct of the mela.Assam governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya visited the temple and offered prayers on Friday morning after the doors were opened, following the rituals.“On the sacred occasion of the conclusion of the Ambubachi Mela, I was blessed with the supreme fortune of having darshan and worship of Maa Kamakhya. At the feet of the Mother Kamakhya, the primordial foundation of creation and the mother of the universe, I bowed my head and prayed for the happiness, peace, prosperity, and auspicious lives of all the citizens of Assam and my dear ones,” the governor wrote in a post on X.Meanwhile, the chief priest of the temple, Kabindra Sarma, said the devotees would be allowed to have darshan and offer prayers till 5.30pm only. He added that no VIP pass facility will be available till June 28.He added, “The Ambubachi Mahayog has been successfully concluded because of the coordination of the district administration, govt departments and temple authorities. Devotees have also cooperated a lot.”
