Durga Puja celebrations at Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati in Assam begins on Pitru Paksha Ekadashi (5 October 2018) with Pashekia Puja. As per the temple legends, Kamakhya leaves Kailash on Indira Ekadashi for Devi Paksha which begins on Ashwin Pratipada (10 October 2018).
Prior to Navratri Durga Puja celebrations, Kamakhya temple is cleaned and decorated with banana stems, flowers and other decorative items. Devotees visit the temple in full swing from Maha Sashti day (15 October 2018).
The important and significance aspect of Kamakhya Temple Navratri Durga Puja is – the entire puja is celebrated without an idol of Goddess Durga. As Kamakhya Devi is an incarnation of Goddess Durga, no separate idol is installed. An image of Durga is drawan on a layer of clay and that image is worshipped throughout the Navratri festival, and immersed in Brahmaputra River on Vijaya Dashami day.
As usual Navratri Nitya Pujas are performed on all days of the festival; Maha Ashtami attracts thousands of devotees to the temple. On Maha Ashtami day (17 October 2018), animal sacrifice is performed. A buffalo is sacrificed to Goddess Kamakhya to please her.