Gangasagar Fair 2025 during the Makar Sankranti: Festival of Faith

The Gangasagar Fair 2025 is one of the biggest Hindu religious celebrations that occurs once a year during the Makar Sankranti in Gangasagar. This year’s Mela was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, on January 9th at Outram Ghat transit camp, while the main event is taking place on January 14th and will continue until January 16th, 2025. Gangasagar is also called Moksha Dham, like Kumbh Mela. There’s a saying: “Sab Tirth Bar Bar, Gangasagar Ekbar,” which means that all other pilgrimages can be undertaken several times, but visiting the Gangasagar is once-in-a-lifetime journey.

Origin and Evolution of Gangasagar Fair

The origin of the Gangasagar Fair dates back centuries. According to the mythological story, when Mother Ganga came to earth from the locks of Lord Shiva, she followed Bhagirath and went to Kapil Muni’s ashram and merged into the ocean. Sixty thousand cursed sons of King Sagar were saved by the holy water of Mother Ganga. The name of the pilgrimage, Ganga Sagar, became famous after that. Devotees believe that taking a dip in the sacred waters during Makar Sankranti washes away sins and grants salvation. Over time, Gangasagar has become a revered destination, drawing millions of people annually.

The place of Gangasagar has religious importance as it serves as a place for people’s liberation, or simply taking a purification bath. Ganga Sagar is in the delta formed by the confluence of Ganga and the sea, which is regarded as the way to reach Moksha, or salvation. On the occasion of the Makar Sankranti, visitors take holy baths on the auspicious day just before sunrise, perform ancestral rites, and offer prayers at the Kapil Muni Ashram.

A Traveler’s Guide

How You Can Get To Ganga Sagar: Reaching Ganga Sagar demands several transit mediums:

By Air: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is located in Kolkata and it is the nearest airport. Take a taxi or a bus from here to go to Harwood Point.
By Train: Kakdwip is the nearest railway station to the Ganga Sagar. The station has regular services, operating further trains from/from Kolkota stations such as Sealdah.
By the Road and By the Boat: Starting from Harwood Point, there is a ferry service to Kachuberia. Buses or shared transportation can be accessed from Kachuberia to reach Gangasagar.

Where to Stay

There are many places to stay for the pilgrims owing to the various types of services offered by the West Bengal Government and other organizations. Close to the fairgrounds, temporary camps, hotels, and guesthouses are constructed. There are also ashrams and dharamshalas available at economical prices. However, since many people attend the event, it is better to book the accommodation beforehand.

Top Tourist Attractions in Gangasagar

Kapil Muni Ashram: This is the primary place where all worshipers visit for prayers after their holy dip.
Sagar Lighthouse: For some great views of the sea, this is most certainly ideal.
Onkarnath Temple: this is yet another place of holy place that complements the rest of the experience in spiritual terms.

Preparation by West Bengal Authorities

The government of West Bengal has put in place adequate arrangements for the Gangasagar Fair. The chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, commenced Gangasagar Mela on the 9th of January, 2025. She reiterated the request to the central government to consider granting Gangasagar Mela national fair status; for that, she stressed the construction of a bridge over the Muriganga and proper transport arrangements for the pilgrims that go to Sagar Island, which is approximately 130 kilometers away from Kolkata.

CM handed over 50 vehicles for Fire and Emergency Services, including 25 water tenders of 5,000 liter capacity and 25 water tenders of 2,500 liter capacity, in boosting vehicles for enhanced emergency services at the Mela. On the way to being environmentally sustainable, she also saw the unveiling of GRSE Ltd’s electric ferry ‘Dheu’, which is designed to curb environmental pollution whilst optimizing passenger safety and comfort.

54 kilometers of barricading and 617 drape gates have been set up on Sagar Island to manage the crowd. Eight scholar zones and 62 joint khaals have been constructed for pilgrims to have darshan of Kapil Muni, attend Ganga Aarti, and listen to Sagar Katha. The Sagar Mall offers a free voice call facility, helping pilgrims stay connected with their loved ones.

In order to keep 24/7 surveillance on the area, 1,000 CCTV’s and 44 watch towers have been established. Four water ambulances along with two air ambulances are to be kept readily available. Medical facilities with a 550-bed hospital and over 400 nurses and compounders, along with an ICU unit, are also available. 20 motorcycles equipped for narrow streets and 150 fire brigade personnel are stationed along the seashore for fire safety. To facilitate transport, 2,250 government and 250 private buses, 120 launches, nine barges, and 32 vessels operate from 21 ghats. There are 50 different food supervision teams also present at the site to monitor the quality of food.

Restrictions and Measures to be Taken

Pilgrims are generally expected to take some precautions and also follow restrictions. Poor mobile network connectivity and a lack of charging points are major concerns for visitors to the site. It is also the pilgrims’ duty to safeguard their belongings. There is no telling when an individual’s items that belong to him might be misplaced. On the 14th of January 2025, Neha Shrivastav, a resident of Lucknow, told that while taking a holy bath, thieves stole her bag that contained money, mobile, credit cards, debit cards, tickets, etc. Thus, to avoid getting into trouble, make sure to protect the valuables. One should also maintain hygiene, especially in the populated areas. Carrying appropriate identification and keeping off restricted areas is compulsory. Fire safety, waste management, and food hygiene regulations are all fully enforced in this area.

Effect of Gross Domestic-Product During the Ganga Sagar Fair

There is a very huge and positive impact for the local economy during the Ganga Sagar Fair. The locals are able to sell various services such as transport, accommodation, food, and religious purchases during the fair. The total revenue the fair brings is crores of rupees to the economic region. Additionally, it also provides temporary employment opportunities and encourages cultural tourism.

Conclusion

The gathering of millions of devotees at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal beautifies the spirit of humanity and devotion. For any seeker of love or for an explorer, Gangasagar is motivational and worth remembering.