GANGA
SAGAR MELA - ART & CULTURE
News:
Ganga Sagar Mela draws to
a close posing questions on erosion and ecological sustainability
What's
in the news?
●
After almost a week of religiosity on the
southernmost tip of Sagar Island in West Bengal, the Ganga Sagar Mela drew to a
close.
Key
takeaways:
●
The West Bengal government has described
the annual religious gathering as a huge success putting the figure of pilgrims
who had descended on the Island about 120 km from Kolkata at a record 1.10
crore.
Ganga
Sagar:
●
It is the largest village of Sagar Island,
located under the administration of
Sunderbans.
●
It is situated just off the Bengal coast
on the point where the river Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal.
●
It is a place of peace, calm, golden sand
beaches and of religion.
●
Every year in the month of January, the
island sees a huge gathering of devotees from all parts of the country who come
to take a dip in the holy waters.
Holy
dip:
●
The river Ganga is the holiest river in
Hindu mythology.
●
This place is also regarded as a holy
destination like Prayag and it is believed that taking holy dip in this place
can cleanse all the sins.
●
The visitors also offer prayers (puja) in
the Kapil Muni Temple.
Gangasagar
Mela
●
Every
year, a long fair is arranged at the Ganga Sagar Island in January and
February.
●
The fair becomes highly crowded on the Makar Sankranti day.
●
It is one of the most famous religious
themed fairs in India.