Assam News | Ambubachi Mela 2026 Preparations Underway, 8 Lakh+ Devotees Expected At Kamakhya Temple

The Assam government and the Kamakhya Temple management have intensified preparations for Ambubachi Mela 2026, with more than eight lakh devotees, saints, sadhus and tantric practitioners expected to converge at the historic Kamakhya Temple atop Nilachal Hill in Guwahati. Last year 10 lakh devotees had come, turning it into one of the biggest religious congregations of Eastern India. Considered one of the most significant religious gatherings in eastern India, the four-day festival marks the annual menstruation cycle of Goddess Kamakhya and symbolizes fertility, feminine energy and the regenerative power of Mother Earth. The festival will commence with Pravritti on June 22 and conclude with Nivritti on June 26, when the temple doors reopen after remaining closed for three days. To ensure smooth conduct of the mela, the Assam government has allocated Rs 4.55 crore across 24 departments for crowd management, sanitation, health services, security, transportation and accommodation facilities. A major crowd-management initiative this year is the introduction of a new entry route from the Pandu side, in addition to the existing Nursery route, to reduce congestion on Nilachal Hill. Temporary camps for pilgrims will be established at Kamakhya Railway Station, Pandu Port and Naharbari, while dedicated parking facilities have been arranged at Adabari Bus Stand and Boripara Field. Authorities will install footwear stands at the foothills of Nilachal Hill and lay carpets along the entire stretch leading to the temple, enabling devotees to walk barefoot comfortably. No devotee or visitor will be permitted to trek to the temple after 6 pm, while entry to the hill route will be restricted between 5 am and 6 pm. To facilitate movement during the mela, the entire stretch leading to the Nilachal foothills will remain a no-parking zone. No private vehicles will be allowed on Nilachal Hill during the festival, except emergency vehicles, ambulances, police and GMC services. Vehicles carrying essential supplies will be permitted only between 11 pm and 6 am. Free ferry services will also be operated from Sonaram Field, Bharalumukh, for officials, senior citizens, differently-abled devotees and media personnel. Temple authorities have also suspended all offline Special Darshan counters. Devotees seeking Special Darshan must book passes online, while general darshan will remain free. The sanctum sanctorum will remain closed from June 22 until the ceremonial reopening on June 26, when devotees will receive the sacred Rakta Bastra prasad, believed to carry the blessings of Goddess Kamakhya. Security personnel, volunteers, medical teams and disaster response units will remain on high alert throughout the festival, which draws pilgrims from across India and abroad, making Ambubachi one of the largest spiritual congregations in the country.