Overview
- The Kamakhya Temple on Nilachal Hill reopened Friday after the four-day Ambubachi observance, and devotees queued from early morning to receive the sacred Angodak and Angabastra.
- Officials said the mela drew about 7.96–8 lakh visitors in 2026, a rise from roughly 7.72 lakh in 2025 and the largest reported turnout in recent years.
- State and district agencies deployed security, medical teams, sanitation crews, drinking water points and traffic controls to manage the surge of pilgrims during the festival.
- Crowd pressure caused severe congestion on approaches to the temple, forced temporary suspension of entry at peak times, produced reports of illness and theft, and prompted the suspension of three local officials for alleged negligence after inspections.
- Ambubachi is a major Shakta festival that marks the goddess’s annual menstrual seclusion and serves as both a central religious observance and a significant tourism event for Assam with recurring logistical challenges for large crowds.