Kamiya Jani Visits the Kamakhya Devi Temple in Assam that has broken the taboo of menstruation and celebrates the Bleeding Goddess and the divine female power.
The temple is among the 52 ‘shakti peeth’ of Goddess Sati/Durga and it is here that the vagina and womb of the Goddess fell. So, people worship the womb and vagina of the Goddess.
The special attraction of this temple is the annual festival – the Ambubachi mela that symbolizes the goddess’s menstrual cycle. During this event, the temple remains closed for three days, reopening on the fourth day with celebrations marking the fertility of the goddess. Known for its association with Tantric practices, the temple draws devotees who engage in rituals, offer prayers, and make symbolic offerings.
The distinctive architecture, featuring a dome-shaped structure adorned with intricate carvings, adds to the spiritual ambiance. Pilgrims and tourists flock to the Kamakhya Temple not only for its religious significance but also to partake in various festivals, processions, and to experience the serene atmosphere surrounding this revered site.
Nature too seems to pay its tribute to the all-powerful shakti of menstruating Goddesses. Every year around the month of ‘Ashad’ the water of river Brahmaputra which flows near Kamakhya turns red. Local people believe that the Goddess bleeds around this time as a part of her menstruation cycle.