Gangasagar Mela 2023: Gangasagar(গঙ্গা সাগর) had an incremental civilization of 10,340, of which about 51 percent that is 5,228 were men (पुरुष) and 5,112 amounting to 49 percent were women (महिला). We saw 1,440 individuals in the age spectrum of 0 to 6 years. The gross scholarly population in Gangasagar was 7,437 that is 83.56% of the community over 6 years.
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Table of Contents
Ganga Sagar Mela 2023
Gangasagar is an emotion of the poetry in motion. A Journey to Gangasagar depicts a fascinating pictorial journey from samsara (the cycle of death and rebirth) to nirvana (salvation), a journey that has fascinated scholars, writers, rationalists and spiritualists since decades. The teeming multitude at Gangasagar Mela offers us a visual insight of man’s relentless quest from the mundane to the spiritual.
Each year a religious event is hosted at Gangasagar which is based on a holy ritual involving taking bath at the sea (Sagar) of Gangasagar. Apart from that Gangasagar is one of the most revered religious pilgrimage for Hindus as it is believed that Kapial Muni’s Ashrama was here and the same is being preserved for years.
Gangasagar Mela 2023 Overview
| Ganga Sagar Mela 2023 Date | 14th January 2023 |
| Is E-SNAN possible in Gangasagar Mela 2023? | Yes, E-SNAN is allowed |
| Is e-registration mandatory for visiting Gangasagar Mela 2023 in person? | Yes, e-registration is mandatory |
| Gangasagar Mela 2023 Whatsapp Number | +91 70039 61108 |
| Gangasagar Mela 2023 E-Mail Address | [email protected] |
| Official Ganga Sagar Mela 2023 Website for e-registration | https://gangasagar.wb.gov.in |
| Official Ganga Sagar Mela 2023 Website for e-snan | https://www.gangasagar.in/en/home |
Gangasagar Mela 2023 Punya Kala (पुण्य काल)
| Event | Day | Date/Duration |
| Makar Sankranti | Saturday | 14th January 2023 |
| Punya Kala (पुण्य काल) | Saturday and Sunday | 7.15 AM 15th January 2023 to 5.46 PM 15th January 2023 |
Is Gangasagar Mela Cancelled Due To Covid-19?
In the year 2023, Gangasagar Mela hasn’t been cancelled yet.
Gangasagar Mela 2023 E-SNAN
E-SNAN is a novel custom/process to meet the religious requirements of millions of pilgrims during Ganga Sagar, especially during the present epidemic periods. Since last year, West Bengal Government has started a unique endeavour to provide sacred Ganga water directly to your home, at your doorstep. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in the journey via virtual support. Unlike every year, the scenario is unique this year, and we are all aware due to Covid-19 Pandemic. Simply place an order online to obtain the ‘Prasad Pack’.
Click Here to Register for Gangasagar Mela E-SNAN 2023
What is Sagar Bharaman?
Sagar Bharaman is an unique effort of tthe Government of West bengal in which Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities can engage in specially prepared excursions on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of January. The pilgrims would be picked up and left off at a designated spot, and they would have access to all facilities, including as wheelchairs and devoted caregivers, so that they may experience the mela without any barriers and at no expense.
How to Reach Gangasagar Mela 2023?
Reach Gangasagar via Air
Sagardwip is about 124 kilometres from Kolkata and is accessible by waterways, train and road.
You might fly to Netaji Subhash Chandra Airport, which is around 118 kilometres from the island. You’ll need to take a cab or bus from the airport to Kakdwip, which is around 108 kilometres away, and then take the boat the rest of the way.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) is the nearest airport, located 118 kilometres from Ganga Sagar (Sagardwip).
Reach Gangasagar via Train
If you’re taking the train from Sealdah to Kakdwip or Namkhana. It is, however, not well linked to the rest of the country. Regardless of the station you select, your travel to Sagardwip will be a combination of cab, bus, and boat.
Reach Gangasagar via Train
The journey from Kolkata to Gangasagar is amazing. First, take a bus from Babughat to Harwood Point to Kakdwip. The journey will take around three hours. From here, take a boat over the Muriganga River to Kachuberia. There is a bus service from Kachuberia to Gangasagar (30km) that takes about an hour.
Local Transportation
Toto and Van are the most accessible and convenient choices for pilgrims in and near Sagardwip.
Where to Stay at Gangasagar Mela 2023
Various arrangements have been made by the government to stay at Ganga Sagar. The details is as follows:
What Are the Buffer Zones at Gangasagar Mela 2023?
- Ayodhya Nagar ( Magrahat I )
- Rudra Nagar ( Sagar )
- Bamunkhali ( Sagar )
- HaldarChak ( Kakdwip )
- Ramjan Nagar ( Kulpi )
- TulsiChak ( Kulpi )
- Diamond Harbour ( Diamond Harbour Municipality )
- Banga Nagar ( Falta )
- Pailan ( Bishnupur I )
Demography and Statistics of Ganga Sagar
| Gangasagar(গঙ্গা সাগর) | West Bengal |
| Population | 10,340 |
| Gender Ratio | 5,228 men (पुरुष)/5,112 women (महिला). |
| Area | 12.26 sq.km |
| Top Attractions | Sagar Beach/ Kamil Muni Temple/ |
| Famouse For ? | Hindu Pilgrimage |
| The Deity of Ganga Sagar | The Goddess Ganga |
| Who started the Ganga Sagar Mela ? | (Sanit) Kapil Muni |
Ganga Sagar or Gangasagar (गंगासागर) is a small rural area or village situated in West Bengal. It is a gram panchayat under the jurisdiction of the Sagar police thana in the Sagar ‘CD block’ in the ‘Kakdweep’ subdivision of the South 24 ‘Parganas’ district in the State of West Bengal (পশ্চিমবঙ্গ).
Kwakdweep
The entire demigraphy in the Kakdweep is a rural population. The entire district is positioned in the Ganges Delta. The Southern fraction of the delta has diverse channels and isles such as Henry, Sagar, Frederick Island, and Fraserganj Island. The subdivision is a component of the Sundarbans territories. A comparatively later country-wide advancement is the guarding of the coastal regions by special coastal impetuses. The area captivates a vast number of tourists – Gangasagar(গঙ্গা সাগর) and Frazerganj-Bakkhali(ফ্রেসারগঞ্জ) are worth mentioning. Gobardhanpur holds a covenant for the future in the tourism sector.
Kapil Muni Ashram
Gangasagar is a spot for a Hindu expedition. Every year on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti i.e 14 January (sometimes on 15th January), hundreds and thousands of Hindus mass to take a sacred venture at the convergence of the Bay of Bengal and the river Ganges in order to offer devotions/prayer/puja in the holy Temple of Kapil Muni, which is also known as Kapil Muni Ashram.
Kapil Muni and Ganga Sagar Mela
The event of Ganga Sagar Mela and pilgrimage is held annually on Sagar Island’s southern cue. The geographical location of Ganga Sagar is mind-blowing to say the least as its situated where the Ganges penetrate the Bay of Bengal. This convergence is also called Gangasagar or Ganga (stands for Ganges River) Sagar (Stands for Sea) and spelled as Gangasagara. Adjacent to the convergence is the Kapil Muni Temple. The Ganga Sagara Dham Darshan and Ganga Sagar Mela is the second largest congregation of humanity just following the triennial ceremonial of cleansing/purification/holy bath by a taking dip in the holy waters of Kumbha during Kumbh Mela in the whole wide world.
The Kapil Muni Ashram is located in the heart of Gangasagar. Legend has it that Sage Kardam Muni was a devout disciple of Lord Vishnu who faithfully obeyed his every command. Lord Vishnu, pleased with his allegiance, fulfilled his request and gave birth to Kapil Muni, his and Devahuti Devi’s offspring. Kapil Muni, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, grew up with an unfathomable knowledge of the Vedas. His name is known across the globe as the creator of Hinduism’s Samkhya philosophy.
The Legend of Kapil Muni
“Raja Sagar,” a pivotal figure in the Gangasagar mythology, is the person behind the name Sagardwip. On the guidance of Sage Aurva, Sagar Raja, Lord Ram’s ancestor, began conducting the 100th Ashvamedha Yagya in order to acquire dominion over all existence. Lord Indra (the only deity to accomplish 100 Ashvamedha Yagya) concealed the sacrificial horse in Kapil Muni’s hermitage out of fear of losing his throne to Raja Sagar.
King Sagar, enraged, dispatched his 60,000 sons on a mission to retrieve the lost horse. The sons embarked on a killing spree, decimating everything in their path until they arrived to the Kapil Muni ashram. When the sons discovered the missing horse on the northeast corner, they began throwing invective at the mediating Kapil Muni, accusing him of stealing.
Anxious about the disruptions, the meditating Sage converted King Sagar’s 60,000 sons to ashes with a single glance and doomed their souls to patallok. Years later, Angshuman, Raja Sagar’s descendent, stumbled upon the horse standing near the ashes. Angshuman was able to rescue the horse after satisfying Kapil Muni, and he discovered that the souls of the Sagar Raja may be liberated from hell by executing shraddha. However, Raja Angshuman and his son Dilip were unsuccessful in bringing Ganga to Earth. After many years, Raja Bhagirath was able to appease the holy trinity of Bharma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who agreed to Ganga’s descent on Earth.
Fearing that the sheer force of Ganga, falling from Vishnu’s big toe, would annihilate the world, Bhagirath begged Lord Shiva to delay Ganga’s fall. Lord Shiva, pleased with Bhagirath’s petitions, volunteered to absorb the whole power of the river on his matted hair. Ganga lost her strength in Shiva’s hair’s wandering maze and landed softly on Earth, saving all creation. The Ganges holy water saved the souls of 60,000 boys from damnation.
With the passage of time, Ganga was given the name Bhagirathi after Raja Bhagirath, while the seas were given the name “Sagar” after Sagar Raja. The island produced by the sacred confluence of Ganga and Sagar became known as Sagardwip.
Millions of pilgrims from all over the world come the Gangasagar Mela during the frigid hours of Makar Sankranti in pursuit of Moksha, believing in this legend. A bath in the holy water is thought to take away all sorrows and sins. Millions of people attend the Kapil Muni ashram with this idea, singing the song ” Sab Tirth Bar Bar Ganga Sagar Ekbar.”
Devotees and Ganga Sagar Mela
Previous Gangasagar Mela
Every year, millions of devotees with unshakeable devotion pour onto the banks of Gangasagar in pursuit of moksha. On Makar Sankranti, tens of thousands of pilgrims from India and neighbouring countries go to the white sands of Sagar Island to bathe in the sacred confluence of the Ganges and the ocean.
With each passing year, the number of pilgrims visiting the Gangasagar Mela has increased. The provision of upgraded amenities on the Mela grounds or during the Gangasagar Yatra has fueled devotees’ excitement. The 2018 Gangasagar Mela drew over 15 lakh pilgrims. The value grew to 20 lakhs in 2019. To deal with the high volume of visitors, the West Bengal government deployed 500 CCTV cameras between Babughat and Sagar Island to monitor the Sagar Yatra. To preserve peace and order, 3000 police officers were deployed.
The 2020 Gangasagar Mela saw a technological revolution, with the authorities introducing initiatives such as E-Snan, in which holy Ganga water would be delivered directly to pilgrims’ door steps, and Sagar Sanjog, which provided pilgrims with real-time information about the movement of pilgrims and vehicles. 60 massive LED screens were strategically positioned to notify pilgrims about transit timetables, tides, and safety precautions in three languages: Bengali, Hindi, and English.
Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 2021 Gangasagar Mela was a success. As more than 30 lakh people attended the Mela, strict COVID regulations were in place. Within the mela grounds, medical screening camps and RAT/ RTPCR testing facilities were set up. A total of 1050 CCTV cameras were employed to track the audience in real time. Drone tracking and GPS/RFID-based Intelligent Crowd Monitoring were used to implement crowd management. To broadcast the mela online, E-Darshan was introduced.
Drone tracking and GPS/RFID-based Intelligent Crowd Monitoring were used to implement crowd management. E-Darshan was presented for the first time to broadcast the mela online. New initiatives such as Sagar Bharaman, a guided tour for senior citizens and people with disabilities; e-Puja, which allows pilgrims to perform puja at the ashram from the comfort of their own homes; Sagar Sangralay, a museum chronicling the history of Gangasagar, and many more will be introduced to provide pilgrims with an unforgettable experience.
In the Year 2007, about 300,000 people seized the holy plunge where the Hooghly joins the Bay of Bengal on the event of Makar Sankranti. Approximately five hundred thousand pilgrims flocked to Gangasagar in 2008. For the remainder of the year, approximately 500,000 people arrive on the island. According to testimonies on January 14, 2018.
18.2 million people had attended Gangasagar in 2018, against 1.5 million in the year before.
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Rituals of Ganga Sagar Mela
A beach as far as the eye can see, packed with enthusiasts. The rich aroma of incense fills the cold January air. The bells chimed loudly in time with chants, casting a mysterious spell all around. When you see all of this at once, you know you’ve arrived at Gangasagar.
The most essential ritual in Gangasagar is to immerse oneself in holy water first thing in the morning. Millions of pilgrims are inspired to endure the bitter cold by nothing more than steadfast faith.
Initially, the sahisnan is performed by saints descended from the Himalayas, especially Naga sadhus. The general Gangasagar snan of the gathering devotees is next performed. Their aspirations and prayers are all geared toward achieving’moksha,’ or ultimate soul emancipation.
Devotees also worship to the Sun God and undertake ceremonies known as ‘tarpan’ in memory of their ancestors, hoping that their souls would be released from the mortal world as well.
Following this, people converge to Kapil Muni’s temple to perform’maha pujas’ and even ‘yajnas.’ Thus, the great saint is remembered, and his blessings are sought.
The Naga sadhus also reward the devotees who visit there by performing awe-inspiring rituals.
The diyas (earthen lights) are lighted in the evening and float down the gorgeous river. Evening aarti is also held, with matra chanting filling the air with devotional passion. A million diyas flowing down the river reminds one of humanity’s journey.
Cultural Significance of Ganga Sagar Mela
Religion is very strongly ingrained in the culture of the area, and Gangasagar, conducted on Makar Sankranti, is no exception.
Gangasagar is more than just a trip; it is the blending of emotions and religion; it is a celebration of life itself.
This is harvest season in many regions of India, and for others, it is the season after crops have been sown. As a result, it’s not surprising that people wish to pay their respects to the Sun God for bestowing the ideal climate upon them. Aside from that, they express their thanks to the soil, the harvests, and the animals.
Indian households prepare a variety of sweet meals using fresh ingredients such as sesame and jaggery.
The festivities are not just focused on food. Kite flying is an important activity. Originally a north-Indian fad, this has grown in popularity and spread throughout India. Every year on January 14th, Delhi celebrates Kite Flying Day.
As a result, we can see that it is firmly woven in the social fabric of the region, an essential aspect of its culture that binds everyone together.
Astrological Significance of Ganga Sagar Mela
Makar Sankranti(मकर संक्रांति), Uttarayan(উত্তরায়ণ), Maghi, or solely Sankranti, also acknowledged in Bangladesh as Poush Sankranti, is a yielding carnival day in the Hindu calendar, devoted to the deity Surya, the God of Sun (सूर्य देवता). It is empirical that each year the day Sun permeates the Capricorn zodiac which approximates with January as per the Gregorian calendar. It captions the initial day of the sun’s transit into Makara Rashi or Capricorn.
Scheduled to the extension of one day in leap years, the date of Makar Sankranti may fluctuate a bit. In leap years it falls on 15 January, and the remaining on 14 January.
The Leap Year
There are 365.24 days in a year but we can utilize only 365 full days. Then we add a day on the leap year. By the time of leap year, the calendar is languishing nearly a day behind the sun, resulting in Makar Sankranti falling on 15 January. When a revision and modifications are made Makar Sankranti falls on 14 January again.
Makar Sankranti (The Appraising of the Sun God ‘Surya Devta’)
It is a renowned religious fair or carnival that helps the habitats that are the main source of income generation for them with an enormous amount of footfalls the revenue is over the charts! But, the condition of the land is highly compromised and it poses public health issues due to organic pollutants in the water bodies mainly as the festival hosts millions of pilgrims washing their sins in these delta.
The statistics have indicated that the main source of the pollution is from the festival ground itself. Locals confirm the same too as we do see an increase is medical casualties in the public.
The parameters of ecosystem quality degradation has lowered the quality of life of the inhabitants in that area, but since the main source of income via fooding, lodging etc is only once during this mela.
The worst influence was in the bacteria counts on the surface waters which meant it has little to no oxygen endangering aquatic life in that region.
The Government is trying their best to eliminate the water bodies from its impurities but a million pilgrims annually for a hundred years is a tough mess to clean.
It affects the drinking water in that area and possibly the whole Country.
The locals there are trying to make a move too and make sure that the pilgrims do not litter around the village.
How can one litter a holy place ?
But, nevertheless, since Swachh Bharat abhiyan was initiated it has been better and improving.
It is actually a paradox how the administrators distributed leaflets for the locals to maintain discipline on the holy ground. And they were scattered around in the end.
It is highly immoral to visit a place to receive the blessings it offers and in return jeopardize the area with a massive amount of pollution. And it comes around in installments as the locals there suffer with various illnesses as the water is not pure and fit to drink.
There is imbalance in the ecosystem as this festival seduces millions that do not consent to proper sanitation while their objective of visiting is to get blessed. Ignoring the fact that the place is holy and it should be kept that way. I duly request for you to take care of nature and be responsible for it. There are steps being taken to make humans a multiplanetary species but then it will take time so know that we only have one place to survive on.
Anyway, let’s know more about the festival.
The festivities attributed to Makar Sankranti are recognized by several names like Magh Bihu in the Indian State of Assamese (আসাম,) Maghi preceded by Lohri in the province of Punjabi (পাঞ্জাব,) Haryanvi, and Himachal Pradesh, prominent amongst both the Hindus and Sikhs, Sukarat in middle India, Pongal in the Indian State of Tamil Nad, Uttarayan in the Indian State of Gujarat, Utarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, Ghuguti in the state Uttarakhand, Makar Sankranti in The state of Oddisha, Karnattaka, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal also named Poush Sankranti, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh dubbed Khichhdi Sankranti or as Sankranthi in Andhra Pradesh and Telngana Maghe Sankranti in the Country of Nepal, Songkran in Country Thailand, Thingyan in Myanmar, Mohan Songkran in Cambodia, and Shishur Sankrat in Kashmir. On Makar Sankranti, the Sun God is praised with Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi throughout India.
Makar Sankranti is anticipated with gracious festivities such as vivid adornments, rural youths going building to building, singing and asking for delights in some areas, melas or fairs, proms, kite gliding, bonfires, and banquets. The Magha Mela is also cited in the Hindu epic of Mahabharata. Many spectators go to spiritual rivers or lakes and bathe in a procession of gratitude to the sun. Every twelve years, the Hindus footnote Makar Sankranti with Kumbha Mela – one of the world’s vastest gathering pilgrimages, with an approximate 40 to 100 million lineages accompanying the occasion. At this phenomenon, they say a prayer to the Sun God and bathe at the Prayaga intersection of the River Ganga and River Yamuna, a tradition associated with Adi Shankaracharya.
Kumbh ka Mela (Kumbh’s Festival)
Kumbh Mela of Kumbha Mela (কুম্ভ মেলা) is a crucial pilgrimage and extravaganza in Hinduism. It is commemorated in an orbit of roughly twelve years, to dedicate every revolution Jupiter(बृहस्पति, বৃহস্পতি)completes, at quadruple river-bank pilgrim pilgrimage sites to visit: the State of Allahabad Prayagraj Ganges-Yamuna-Sarasvati rivers confluence(विसर्जन), The state of Haridwar Ganges, Nashik with the Godavari, and Ujjain with Shipra.
The celebration is commemorated by a pompous dip in the waters, but it is also a carnival of community commerce with various carnivals, circuses, schooling, spiritual sermons by saints, abundance feedings of monks, and or the poor, and a recreation spectacle. The solicitors surmise that bathing in these rivers is a means to prāyaścitta which means washing sins or atonement, penance for preceding blunders and that it purifies them of their sins.
The celebration is traditionally associated with the 8th-century Hindu scholar and saint Adi Shankara, as a part of his endeavors to commence crucial Hindu congregations for philosophic seminars and controversies along with Hindu sanctuaries across the Indian subcontinent. However, there is no ancient erudite indication of these mass pilgrimages called “Kumbha Mela” before the 19th century. There are ample indications in the historical compositions and memoranda of an annual Magha Mela in Hinduism with systematic substantial congregations after 6 or 12 years where pilgrims compiled in enormous amounts and where one of the ceremonies comprised a holy dip in a river or holy tank.
The weeks over which the festivities are observed are the observed progression at each location roughly once every 12 years established on the Hindu lunisolar calendar and the proximate astrological stances of Jupiter, the sun, and the moon. The variation and diffrenecs in Prayag and Haridwar version of the Kumbha Mela is about 6 years, and both emphasize a Maha or major and Ardha or half Kumbh Melas. The precise years are especially for the Kumbh Mela or fair at Ujjain and Nashik.
Which has been a question of conflict in the 20th century. The Nashik and Ujjain festivities have been celebrated in the identical year or one-year loof. Typically, about three years after the Haridwar Kumbh Mela. Elsewhere in several facets of India, identical but for minor community pilgrimage and bathing festivities are dubbed the Magha Mela, Makar Mela, or coequal. For example, in Tamil Nadu, the Magha Mela with the water-dip ceremony is a festival of ancientness.
This extravaganza is held at the Mahamaham tank near Kaveri river every 12 years at Kumbakonam which entices millions of South Indian Hindus and has been characterized as the Tamil Kumbh Mela. Other locations where the Magha-Mela or Makar-Mela saturating pilgrimage and fiestas have been called Kumbh Mela incorporate Kurukshetra, Sonipat, and Panauti in Nepal.
The Kumbh Melas have three dates around which the vital plurality of travelers participate, while the celebration itself endures between one to three months around this duration. Each festivity seduces millions, with the broadest conference at the Prayag Kumbh Mela and the second largest at Haridwar. 60 million Hindus assembled for the Kumbh Mela in 2001.
The carnival is one of the biggest benign congregations in the world, and is considered the “world’s biggest congregation of religious pilgrims”. It has been etched on the UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The festival is celebrated over numerous days, with the day of Amavasya persuading a substantial volume on an individual day. The authorities at Kumbh ka Mela announced that the highest number of one-day footfalls at the Kumbh Mela was thirty million on tenth February 2013, and fifty million on 4 February 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total population of Gangasagar?
The total population was counted as to be 10,340 in the census of 2011.
What is the total area of Gangasagar?
The total area of Gangasagar is 12.26sq.km
Who started the Ganga Sagar Mela ?
Sage Kapil Muni initiated the Ganga Sagar Mela.
Suggested Reading:
| Go To Home Page | Click Here |
| West Bengal Government’s Tourism Site | Click Here |
| Gangasagar Mela – Official Website | Click Here |
| Gangasagar Mela 2022 | Click Here |