The world-famous ‘Ambubachi Mela 2026’ has officially commenced at the Maa Kamakhya Temple, one of the 51 revered Shaktipeeths situated atop the Nilachal Hills in Assam. On Monday night, June 22, at exactly 9:08 PM, the main doors of the temple were closed to devotees after the ‘Pravritti’ rituals were completed with Vedic chants and Tantric procedures.
With this, the annual menstruation (Rajashwala) period of Goddess Kamakhya has officially begun. For the next three days, entry into the temple’s sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha) will be strictly prohibited, and no temple bells will be rung.
If you have already reached Guwahati for Darshan or are planning to arrive soon, it is essential to know the complete schedule and the strict rules observed during these days.
Table of Contents
Complete 3-Day Schedule (June 22 to June 26, 2026)
According to the auspicious timings (Muhurat) decided by the temple administration and the head priests (Bordoloi Samaj), the schedule for this year is as follows:
- June 22 (Monday Night): The temple doors were closed at 9:08 PM marking the ‘Pravritti’ ritual.
- June 23, 24, and 25: The temple will remain completely closed for these three days. The Mother Goddess will rest in the sanctum, and no daily worship or rituals will be performed.
- June 26 (Friday Morning): Following the ‘Nivritti’ ritual, the Goddess will be bathed after sunrise. After secret pujas, the temple doors will finally be reopened for public Darshan.
Strict Rules Observed During Ambubachi
These three days of Ambubachi (when the doors remain closed) are considered highly sacred yet are observed with restrictions akin to a ‘Sutak’ (a period of abstinence) in Assam and surrounding regions. Honoring the resting period of nature and the Goddess, several strict rules are followed:
- Ban on Digging the Earth: Mother Earth is considered to be menstruating during these three days. Therefore, farmers neither plough their fields nor sow seeds, and any form of digging the earth is strictly prohibited.
- Restriction on Auspicious Work: Locals do not initiate any new or auspicious work during the Ambubachi period.
- Prohibition of Regular Worship: Even in household shrines, idols of deities are covered with a red cloth, and no special pujas or aartis are performed.
- Following a Satvik Diet: Many devotees and spiritual seekers avoid fire-cooked meals for these three days, surviving entirely on fruits (Falahar) and raw foods.
The Sacred ‘Rakta Bastra’ Prasad Awaits Devotees
When the temple doors reopen on the morning of June 26, the Goddess will first be bathed, after which lakhs of devotees will be allowed inside for Darshan.
Before the doors were closed tonight, priests placed a piece of white cloth inside the sanctum. Due to the Goddess’s menstruation, it is believed that this cloth turns red. When the doors open on June 26, pieces of this same cloth will be distributed among the devotees as the highly auspicious ‘Rakta Bastra’ (Blood Cloth) Prasad.
To receive this divine blessing, thousands of Sadhus, Aghoris from across the country, and lakhs of ordinary devotees have already started gathering in long queues on the Nilachal Hills.
