Colours of Kamakhya by night

Kamakhya temple is situated atop the Nilachal Hill, in western part of Guwahati city in Assam, at about 800 feet above sea level.
One of the oldest "Shakti Pthas" Kamakhya temple is a very important pilgrimage destination for the Hindus.

Ambubachi Mela is one of the festivals celebrated in the month of June every year. Being the centre for Tantra worship, Kamakhya temple attracts thousands of tantra devotees to this annual festival. 

During this festivals the doors of not only Kamakhya temple but all other temples remain closed for three days. This is believed to be the yearly menstruation period of Maa Kamahkya. After three days Maa Kamakhya is bathed performing rituals to ensure that the Goddess retrieves her purity. Then the doors of the temple are reopened for devotees to offer worship. 

During these three days some restrictions are observed by the devotees. They do not worship or perform any puja/any kind of religious rituals, read holy books, farming etc during these three days. 

Lakhs of devotees from various places crowd this temple during the Ambubachi Mela.

On other days, temple door opens for the devotees at 8am. Doors are closed at 1pm and reopened at 2.30 pm again every day. 

It is altogether a different feeling to visit Maa Kamakhya during the evenings.

The following pictures clicked on such an evening at Kamakhya temple prove how colourful it is on the Nilachal Hill.

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