1. On Makar Sankranti, nearly one crore pilgrims gathered for the Gangasagar Mela.
2. The sacred event involved participants immersing themselves in the holy waters at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal.
3. This traditional pilgrimage annually attracts devotees to Gangasagar in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district for ritualistic dips and prayer ceremonies at the Kapil Muni Temple.
Gangasagar, Jan 16: On Makar Sankranti, almost one crore pilgrims from all corners of the country participated in the Gangasagar Mela, immersing themselves in the holy waters at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal.
This annual pilgrimage, deeply rooted in tradition, draws lakhs of devotees to Gangasagar in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district each year, where they perform ritualistic dips and engage in prayer ceremonies at the revered Kapil Muni Temple.
Breaking all previous records, this year’s gathering at Gangasagar saw an impressive footfall of nearly one crore pilgrims. The sacred waters witnessed a multitude of devotees taking a dip and offering prayers at the Kapil Muni Temple, marking a significant spiritual convergence.
The Gangasagar Mela, hailed as one of the world’s largest religious congregations, has prompted State Power Minister Aroop Biswas to appeal to the Union government to designate it as a “national fair.”
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had recently forwarded a similar request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Despite the overwhelming participation, ferry services to Gangasagar encountered disruptions for approximately six hours on Monday, attributed to dense fog.
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The interruption, implemented as a safety precaution, lasted from 3:30 am to 9:40 am and impacted ferry services from Kachuberia and Lot 8.
Superintendent of Police Koteswara Rao confirmed the resumption of ferry services after visibility conditions improved, resulting in a backlog of at least 40 vessels ferrying passengers to or from Gangasagar.
To ensure the safety of the substantial gathering of pilgrims, the state government heightened security measures at Sagar Island.
Alongside state police, personnel from NDRF, SDRF, and the Coast Guard were deployed with appropriate equipment to respond to potential emergencies.
Aroop Biswas reported that until Sunday noon, nearly 65 lakh pilgrims had visited the Gangasagar Mela since its inauguration on January 8.
The fairground, sprawling across the beach, is now under the surveillance of approximately 1,100 CCTV cameras and 22 drones. Security personnel, including 14,000 policemen, oversee the event, and 45 watchtowers have been erected.
Pilgrims are being transported to Sagar Island via 36 vessels, 100 launches, and six barges operating across 22 jetties. To enhance visibility on the Muriganga River, 300 fog lights have been strategically installed.
The auspicious timing for ‘punya snan’ or the holy bath on Makar Sankranti began at 12:13 am on Monday and will continue for the next 24 hours.
While most devotees adhere to this timing, some follow the Mahabir Panjika, which designated the auspicious timing for the holy bath starting at 8:42 am on Sunday.
