Q. Consider the following statements regarding the annual Ambubachi Mela:
1.It is an annual post-monsoon festival held at the historic Kamakhya Temple on the Nilachal Hills in Assam.
2.The celebration centers around the natural phenomenon of earth’s fertility, during which no physical idol is worshipped inside the sanctum sanctorum.
3.The present structure of the Kamakhya Temple was reconstructed in the 16th century by Chilarai, a king of the regional Koch dynasty.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: D
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: The Ambubachi Mela takes place every year at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, positioned atop the sacred Nilachal Hills along the Brahmaputra River.
- Statement 2 is correct: The festival is unique because it celebrates the menstruation cycle of the Goddess, symbolizing the creative power of the earth. During these three days, regular temple activities pause, and no physical idol worship takes place. Instead, a natural stone fissure is revered.
- Statement 3 is correct: After the original temple structure was heavily damaged by Kala Pahar, it was rebuilt in 1565 CE under the patronage of King Chilarai of the Koch kingdom, combining indigenous and early styles.
