Ganga Mela - Winter Solstice Festival Sagar Island

Samsara

In the documentary "Treks in a Wild World - Trekking in Darjeeling" a trip to the Ganga Mela (Festival of the Ganges River) was included. Apparently it occurs at the winter solstice whn half a million pilgrims converge on Sagar Island (the film crew took a bus from Kolkatta, an uncomfortable crowded cheap ride of a few hours).

It had all the atmosphere of the Kumbh Mela, very picturesque. Saddhus, chillums, neon flashing lighted temples etc. Pilgrims bathe in the Ganges for spiritual benefits.

The Festival is annual

indiaguide

Gangasagar mela.Gagasagar is a island at the mouth of the River Ganga.14th of January Million of Pilgrimegers are taking bath on this place.

xealot

Does the date of this festival vary or will it be the same next year?

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Samsara

I don't know, zealot. But I'm sure someone here can tell you. But it might be also on some websites to do with Calcutta (KolKatta) tourism surely?

Samsara

I just entered the search words Ganga Mela Sagar tourism in Google and tons of Bengali tourism websites came up.

xealot

your right i was just being lazy i suppose

Samsara

No, no I didn't mean that you were being lazy! The question you asked is the sort of question you're supposed to ask on IndiaMike! But I honestly didn't know - I was trying to remember whether it was a fixed date or had something to do with the moon...

SHIMLA

indiaguide's post above has a hint - he mentions January 14, which is Makar Sankrant; and the only Indian Festival to fall on the same day of the solar calendar every year.

The Gangasagar Mela is celebrated over three days on the occasion of Makar Sankrant.

Link : http://www.pilotguides.com/destinati...f estival.php

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xealot

Thanks guys, I'm thinkg about spending my new year in India in West Bengal so that could be a good festival to end my visit to the state with.

Shimla I haven't mentioned it in the other forumn, but congrats on becoming a forum leader, it is certainly well deserved. This forumn is one of the most well kept I have seen, its commuinity atmosphere is absolutely beautiful. Now you have been recognised for your contributions to it officially. Congrats. Georgie

tintin8801

yes ganga sagar is celebrated in january , the holy dip being on 14th/15th jan, depending on which date is pous / makar sankranti acording to astrological/astronomical calender........
fr further enquiry feel free and speak up......ask

tintin8801

it is the same date when kiteflying competition is celebrated in burdwan of westbengal, whole day the sky is filled with multicoloured kites!.....and manjha the special thread the order of the day!........kiteflyin is done in many other parts of india too during that time, like in rajasthan!

somnath

Ganga Sagara (Sagardwip)

Ganga Sagar is where the Ganges flows into the Bay of Bengal. Sagara Island is 105km south of Calcutta and about 64km (40 miles) south of Diamond Harbor, at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Ganges. At this point the Ganges is about 24km wide.
Located here is the Kapila Muni Temple, in which Kapila Muni resides with Gangamata (the goddess of the Ganges) on his right and King Sagara (the great-great-grandfather of King Bhagiratha) on his left. It is said that the great sage Kapila Muni resides here in trance for the deliverance of the conditioned souls.
West Bengal tourism organizes a boat trip to the Kapila Muni temple.
Every year on Makara-sankranti (mid-January), there is a large, three-day Ganga Sagar Mela Festival in which thousands of pilgrims come here to bathe, hoping to be liberated from rebirth. The bathing festival is literally attended by hundreds of thousands of people from all over India. This makes the festival an austere event. One person who attended told me that he slept only three hours in three days and had nothing to eat.
To get to Ganga Sagar during the festival, you must share a boat with one hundred people, although the boats are meant for twenty, then take a bus, a rickshaw, and then finally walk a good distance.

Where to Stay
There is a Youth Hostel here which can be booked in Calcutta at Youth Services (033 248-0606), 32/1 BBD Bagh South. The Bharat Seva Sangha Dharamshala is free for three days…………..

(http://www.naturalnirvana.com/India/...est-Bengal.htm )

jyotirmoy

Visitors to Ganga Sagar mela please check out if innoculation certificate is mandatory or not. Carry a stock of bottled water & food. I was once told that now a days some fancy steamer trips are available with all comforts but I am not sure.

After the Ganga Sagar mela concludes Baul mela begins. So this is good time to connect with local & specially rural people.
Good luck.

ddutta

Another place to stay at Gangasagar is " Larica Sagar Vihar " a 1*star Hotel.For booking contact :- 74 Park Street , Kolkata -700017 Phone 22403583 / 22404537 / Fax 22404358
http://www.travel-library.com/hotels...gar_vihar.html

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glossolalia mcgee

thats it...

which three days does the festival take place? leading up to, or following Makar Sankrati????