Gangasagar Mela 2008

Ganga Sagar Mela or Gangasagar Fair is the annual gathering of Hindu pilgrims during Makar Sankranti at Sagar Island or Sagardwip in West Bengal, India. Hindu pilgrims arrive in thousands from across the country to take dip in the sacred waters of River Ganga before she merges in the Bay of Bengal. The mela is usually a three day affair. In 2008, Ganga Sagar Mela begins on January 12 and ends on January 15.

Update: New article on Gangasagar Mela 2010


Pilgrims in large numbers take holy dip at the auspicious time on Makar Sankranti day and offer prayers to Lord Surya (sun god). After taking a dip, devotees offer water to Surya and it is believed that this washes the sins away. After the rituals, pilgrims visit the Kapilmuni Temple situated nearby.

Pilgrims start to arrive in the first week of January and on the Makar Sankranti day the number touches half a million.



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Posted by Abhilash Rajendran on 7.1.08

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I will be there... I am taking the train tomorrow from Delhi. Very interested in all these hindu festivals like the Kumbh Mela. Do you have any information regarding accomodation? I can't reach the Youth Hostel and Larica Sagar. Hope there are facilities... C.

January 11, 2008 at 4:57 PM
abhi said...

No idea regarding accommodation. The last I heard on this was that the government has given permission to set up transit camps on Sagar Island. Happy Journey.

January 11, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Anonymous said...

when is it in 2009

December 8, 2008 at 6:23 AM
Martyn Brown said...

You can sleep with the pilgrims in makeshift huts. Perfectly comfortable. Buy some straw and sleep on the sand. I am taking someone there so look out for an older tall white guy and an English woman. We will be staying in one of these huts.
Martyn Brown

January 7, 2009 at 5:41 PM

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