Despite the ongoing Mahakumbh in Uttar Pradesh, the Gangasagar Mela on the shores of the Bay of Bengal has once again proven its status as one of India's premier pilgrimage destinations. Bankim Chandra Hazra, minister of Sundarban affairs, highlighted this while participating in a beach clean-up drive on Thursday.
Thousands of people took a holy dip in river Hooghly on the occasion of Makar Sankranti today.
With the country’s second largest congregation kicking off, two transit points leading to the Gangasagar venue, including Namkhana and Kakdwip have got a makeover by Sealdah division.
The holy dip for Makar Sankranti will begin on Tuesday at 6.58 a.m. and continue until Wednesday morning.
The South 24 Parganas district administration expects around 50 lakh devotees to attend this year's Gangasagar Mela. The fair officially commenced on Friday.
The state government today launched a massive cleanliness drive at Sagar Island to clean the garbage near Kapil Muni Ashram and the sea beach area.
The Shahi Snan(royal bath) of Makar Sankranti began at the Gangasagar Mela from midnight. The dense fog could not dampen the pilgrims’ spirit as they thronged the water.
The district administration of South 24-Parganas is expecting more than 60 lakh people to take the holy dip.
Transport department has launched the service of air ambulance for evacuating critically ill pilgrims of Gangasagar Mela from Sagar Point to Kolkata for treatment in government hospitals at Kolkata from today to 16 January.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee may visit Sagar Island to inspect preparations for the Gangasagar Mela in the first week of January.
