A sadhu (Holy man) dressed as lord Shiva during the preparation day at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati on Monday, 21 June 2010. Hundreds of Sadhus visit Kamakhya Temple during the Ambubachi festival, which will start from June, 22. The festival is organised, every year in June, to mark the menstrual period of Goddess Kamakhya during which the temple"s sanctum sanctorum remains closed. The traditional belief behind the festival is that the days of the Goddess"s menstruation signify fertility.

Photographer: Ujjal Deb

Tags: Kamakhya TempleAmbubachi FestivalGoddess KamakhyaAmbubachi FairAmbubachi Festival in AssamAmbubachi MelaAmbubachi Mela in GuwahatiGuwahati Ambubachi MelaAmetiTantric Fertility FestivalPhoto Stock