Thousands gather to celebrate Ambubachi festival at Kamakhya

The festival is in celebration of the annual menstrual cycle of the Goddess Shakti at the Kamakhya Temple. (Photo: AP)

Indian devotees gather to pray at Kamakhya temple during the Ambubachi festival in Gauhati, India, Thursday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: AP)

An Indian Sadhu or Hindu holy man smears his forehead with sacred ash at Kamakhya temple during the Ambubachi festival in Gauhati, India, Thursday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: AP)

Indian devotees pray at Kamakhya temple during the Ambubachi festival in Gauhati, India, Thursday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: AP)

n Indian Sadhvi or Hindu holy woman prays at Kamakhya temple during the Ambubachi festival in Gauhati, India, Thursday, June 22, 2017.(Photo: AP)

Women perform rituals on the occasion of 'Ambubachi' festival at Laxmi Narayan temple in Agartala on Thursday. (Photo: AP)

Devotees performing bhajans and kirtans on the first day of the annual Ambubachi Mela at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati on Thursday.(Photo: AP)

An Indian devotee prays while standing in Saubhagya Kunda, a holy pond at Kamakhya temple during the Ambubachi festival in Gauhati, India, Thursday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: AP)