03:44Thousands of Hindu devotees from all around India gathered at the Kamakhya Devi Temple in Guwahati to participate in Ambubachi Mela festivities on Monday.
Footage shows the locals gathering by the temple and praying next to sculptures of Mother Kamakhya. Many can be seen dressed in different religious costumes or washing themselves in the nearby river. Footage also shows dozens of worshippers marching in full-body paint.
"When you are here, you will have positive energy. Even when you are sad, if you come here, you will feel relaxed and relieved. That's because you are getting positive energy here and you will forget the pain," explained one worshipper, Shubhondu.
"All devotees visit the temple with devotion," she added. "They have love for Mother Kamakhya. It is visible when you see so many people coming to see Maa Kamakhya from all over the country."
During the four-day Ambubachi Mela festival, also known as Kamakhya Devi Puja, Hindus believe that the Goddess of Desire, Kamakhya, undergoes her annual menstrual period for three days.
The temple remains closed for the first three days of the mela. During this time, devotees are forbidden from acts like farming, cooking or reading holy books.
When the temple reopens on the fourth day, thousands of devotees rush to receive 'prasads' - small pieces of cloth believed to be moistened with the Goddess's menstrual fluid.
Thousands of Hindus celebrate Ambubachi Mela at Guwahati's Kamakhya Devi Temple
Thousands of Hindu devotees from all around India gathered at the Kamakhya Devi Temple in Guwahati to participate in Ambubachi Mela festivities on Monday.
Footage shows the locals gathering by the temple and praying next to sculptures of Mother Kamakhya. Many can be seen dressed in different religious costumes or washing themselves in the nearby river. Footage also shows dozens of worshippers marching in full-body paint.
"When you are here, you will have positive energy. Even when you are sad, if you come here, you will feel relaxed and relieved. That's because you are getting positive energy here and you will forget the pain," explained one worshipper, Shubhondu.
"All devotees visit the temple with devotion," she added. "They have love for Mother Kamakhya. It is visible when you see so many people coming to see Maa Kamakhya from all over the country."
During the four-day Ambubachi Mela festival, also known as Kamakhya Devi Puja, Hindus believe that the Goddess of Desire, Kamakhya, undergoes her annual menstrual period for three days.
The temple remains closed for the first three days of the mela. During this time, devotees are forbidden from acts like farming, cooking or reading holy books.
When the temple reopens on the fourth day, thousands of devotees rush to receive 'prasads' - small pieces of cloth believed to be moistened with the Goddess's menstrual fluid.
Thousands of Hindu devotees from all around India gathered at the Kamakhya Devi Temple in Guwahati to participate in Ambubachi Mela festivities on Monday.
Footage shows the locals gathering by the temple and praying next to sculptures of Mother Kamakhya. Many can be seen dressed in different religious costumes or washing themselves in the nearby river. Footage also shows dozens of worshippers marching in full-body paint.
"When you are here, you will have positive energy. Even when you are sad, if you come here, you will feel relaxed and relieved. That's because you are getting positive energy here and you will forget the pain," explained one worshipper, Shubhondu.
"All devotees visit the temple with devotion," she added. "They have love for Mother Kamakhya. It is visible when you see so many people coming to see Maa Kamakhya from all over the country."
During the four-day Ambubachi Mela festival, also known as Kamakhya Devi Puja, Hindus believe that the Goddess of Desire, Kamakhya, undergoes her annual menstrual period for three days.
The temple remains closed for the first three days of the mela. During this time, devotees are forbidden from acts like farming, cooking or reading holy books.
When the temple reopens on the fourth day, thousands of devotees rush to receive 'prasads' - small pieces of cloth believed to be moistened with the Goddess's menstrual fluid.