Ambubachi Mela, a four-day fair to mark the annual menstruation of the goddess at Kamakhya temple in Guwa- hati, began on Friday. Kamakhya, atop Nilachal Hills in Guwahati, is one of 51 shaktipeeths or seat of Shakti followers, each representing a body part of Sati, Lord Shi- va’s companion. The temple’s sanctum sanctorum houses the yoni — female genital — symbolised by a rock. Priests at the temple said doors of the temple were shut for visitors at 4 p.m. on Friday to let the goddess go through her period. “The temple doors will be reopened at 4.30 p.m. from Tuesday ( June 26). All Hindu temples across the region will remain closed during this period,” Kabindra Sar- ma, a senior priest, said. Temple priests said the ri- tualistic fair celebrating the goddess’ period is one of the reasons why the taboo asso- ciated with menstruation is less in Assam compared with other parts of India. The at- tainment of womanhood of girls in Assam is celebrated with a ritual called ‘Tuloni Biya’, meaning small wed- ding. Ocials said Ambuba- chi Mela is also an occasion to promote awareness on menstrual hygiene. Chief Minister Sarbanan- da Sonowal inspected the ar- rangements for pilgrims as well as security in the com- plex before the fair began. Devotees make a beeline for Kamakhya during Ambu- bachi Mela. The only ones that avoid the temple are the descendants of the medieval Koch royalty, who had re- constructed the Kamakhya temple in 1565. Pranab Narayan Deb, a descendant of Koch king Na- ranarayan, said this is be- cause the goddess is believed to have cursed the royalty after the king and his brother Chilarai — one of Assam’s re- vered generals — had secretly watched her dance. Researchers at the Guwa- hati-based Centre for Koch- Rajbongshi Studies and De- velopment said there are le- gends about the goddess dancing when Kendukoli, a priest during Naranarayan’s reign, performed puja with his eyes shut. Four-day Ambubachi Mela begins in Guwahati after the Kamakhya temple doors are closed Devotees at the Ambubachi festival at Kamakhya temple in Guwahati. * RITU RAJ KONWAR Rahul Karmakar Guwahati Celebrating the goddess who bleeds

Celebrating the goddess who bleeds - Sosin Classes...houses the yoni — female genital — symbolised by a rock. Priests at the temple said doors of the temple were shut for visitors

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Page 1: Celebrating the goddess who bleeds - Sosin Classes...houses the yoni — female genital — symbolised by a rock. Priests at the temple said doors of the temple were shut for visitors

Ambubachi Mela, a four-dayfair to mark the annual men-struation of the goddess atKamakhya temple in Guwa-hati, began on Friday.

Kamakhya, atop NilachalHills in Guwahati, is one of 51shaktipeeths or seat of Shaktifollowers, each representinga body part of Sati, Lord Shi-va’s companion. The tem-ple’s sanctum sanctorumhouses the yoni — femalegenital — symbolised by arock.

Priests at the temple saiddoors of the temple wereshut for visitors at 4 p.m. onFriday to let the goddess gothrough her period.

“The temple doors will bereopened at 4.30 p.m. fromTuesday ( June 26). All Hindutemples across the regionwill remain closed duringthis period,” Kabindra Sar-ma, a senior priest, said.

Temple priests said the ri-

tualistic fair celebrating thegoddess’ period is one of thereasons why the taboo asso-ciated with menstruation isless in Assam compared with

other parts of India. The at-tainment of womanhood ofgirls in Assam is celebratedwith a ritual called ‘TuloniBiya’, meaning small wed-

ding. Offi��cials said Ambuba-chi Mela is also an occasionto promote awareness onmenstrual hygiene.

Chief Minister Sarbanan-

da Sonowal inspected the ar-rangements for pilgrims aswell as security in the com-plex before the fair began.

Devotees make a beelinefor Kamakhya during Ambu-bachi Mela. The only onesthat avoid the temple are thedescendants of the medievalKoch royalty, who had re-constructed the Kamakhyatemple in 1565.

Pranab Narayan Deb, adescendant of Koch king Na-ranarayan, said this is be-cause the goddess is believedto have cursed the royalty af-ter the king and his brotherChilarai — one of Assam’s re-vered generals — had secretlywatched her dance.

Researchers at the Guwa-hati-based Centre for Koch-Rajbongshi Studies and De-velopment said there are le-gends about the goddessdancing when Kendukoli, apriest during Naranarayan’sreign, performed puja withhis eyes shut.

Four-day Ambubachi Mela begins in Guwahati after the Kamakhya temple doors are closed

Devotees at the Ambubachi festival at Kamakhya temple in Guwahati. * RITU RAJ KONWAR

Rahul KarmakarGuwahati

Celebrating the goddess who bleeds