Gangasagar Mela
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Jan 14 – 15, 2023 |
| 2024 | To be announced |
Gangasagar Mela is the second largest human congregation after Kumbh Mela and is celebrated on a grand scale at the confluence of holy river Ganga and Bay of Bengal at Sagardwip island in West Bengal. If you are a religious traveller or if you are a traveller who enjoys both religious and pleasure trips, then a visit to Gangasagar is a must. Considered to be one of the biggest celebrations in West Bengal, Gangasagar mela has also become of the best festival tours in India. The event starts in Mid January during the time of Makar Sankranti and continues for a period of 2 months. The state government organizes this annual festival with due diligence and makes all necessary arrangements to keep the festival spirits alive, keeping in mind the safety of the people. The festival starts 2, 3 days before the Sankranti and a large number of pilgrims are seen on the Sankranti day. Pilgrims from different parts of India and abroad visit Gangasagar Mela to take a holy deep in the Ganges. Hence, this festival is also referred as Gangasagar Snan or Gangasagar Yatra.
Gangasagar Mela dates
Gangasagar Mela is celebrated on the basis of Sankranti. Usually, it falls between 13th and 15th January every year. Gangasagar Mela 2023 dates are 14th and 15th January. Book your tickets for Gangasagar Mela Tour 2023.
History and significance of Gangasagar Mela
There is a story behind the celebration of Gangasagar Mela. Once upon a time, there was a sage named Kapil Muni who was considered to be one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. During that time, there was a king named King Sagar. He was at that time conducting the powerful Ashwamedha Yagya to win over the world. Lord Indra out of jealousy stole the sacrificial horses which were to be used in the Yagya and hid them in the ashram of Kapil Muni. When King Sagar’s sons found the horses in Kapil Muni’s ashram, they accused Muni as the thief. This infuriated Kapil Muni and he cursed the sons and reduced them into ashes. Bhagirathi, the only grandson of King Sagar, meditated for years so that the river Ganga flows down towards the Bay of Bengal over his ancestors’ mortal remains, so that they attain salvation of their souls.
Confluence of Ganga with Bay of Bengal took place on the Sankranti day and ever since then, a dip in the river during the Sankranti time is always considered auspicious
Celebrations of Gangasagar Mela
Gangasagar mela is celebrated with grandeur on the Sagardwip Island on the banks of Hoogly river. Although the Gangasagar annual fair is a 2-month long festival, yet, most of the pilgrims gather on the Sankranti day which is considered to be the righteous day of taking a dip and offering prayers. It is one of the best festival tours in West Bengal, India. Pilgrims and tourists from various states of India, including from Nepal, Bangladesh, Tibet, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries visit the mela. Apart from the general pilgrims, the gathering of Naga Sadhus here gives a unique identity to this festival.
There is also a Kapil Muni Temple nearby, which people generally visit after the holy dip. The temple is considered today as the Kapil Muni’s Ashram. You cannot skip out visiting this temple. There is another peaceful temple Onkarnath temple on the banks which is worth visiting.
Leaving aside the religious significance, a visit to Gangasagar mela also gives you an opportunity to explore the other areas nearby. There is Bakkhali Beach, an uncommercialized silver sands beach with Casuarina trees, which is worth the visit. Frazerganj near Bakkhali Beach has a huge wind energy farm that generates about 1MW of energy. This has also become an important tourist spot here.
And of course, the mela on the Sagardwip island is a huge one and is a galore of religious and traditional items which tourists love to purchase as gift items and souvenirs. A festive mood, with a subtle religious tone, creates an ambience of fun and celebrations at Gangasagar Mela.
How to reach?
You can take a train ride from Kolkata to Namkhana. Ferry services are available at Bakkhali which take you to Sagar Island. If you go by road, then you have to stop at Harwood point, ferry cross and then take the Kachuberia bus to reach the destination. The nearest airport is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport.
Book your travel plan to Gangasagar Mela 2023 with the best tour operators in India which offer you the best tour plans to make your Gangasagar Mela visit a memorable one. On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti 2023, booking a tour plan well in advance with the best inbound tour operators in India will make you enjoy a stress-free and enjoyable spiritual holiday at Gangasagar Mela.
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