Gangasagar Mela 2024: What Ganga Snan Is All About- Know Why It's Special
During Makar Sankranti, pilgrims across the country gather at the confluence of the Ganges River and the Bay of Bengal to take a sacred dip, followed by prayers at the revered Kapil Muni Temple.
The Gangasagar Mela held every year in Bengal is the second-largest gathering of Hindu pilgrims, following the Kumbha Mela. It is an annual event held exclusively on Sagardwip, also known as Sagar Island. Each year, during Makar Sankranti, pilgrims across the country gather at the confluence of the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal to take a sacred dip, followed by prayers at the revered Kapil Muni Temple, which holds significant stories and is deeply worshipped by devotees.
Gangasagar Mela Date:
The Mela commences a few days prior to Makar Sankranti and concludes on the day after the festival. Hindu pilgrims from India and around the world gather at Sagar Island to take part in the sacred ritual of taking a divine dip in the holy waters of the Ganges River before it meets the Bay of Bengal.
Devotees begin arriving in the first week of January, with the Makar Sankranti day drawing the maximum number of pilgrims to the site. This year, the auspicious bath will be taking place on January 15 and 16.
The Snan:
The Ganga Sagar Mela Snan spans seven days, but the actual Bath (Snan) and its religious ceremonies commence a day before Makar Sankranti and conclude the following day.
On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, pilgrims take part in the sacred dip in the wee hours of dawn, offering prayers to Lord Surya, the Sun God. This divine immersion is believed to cleanse sins and pave the way for the attainment of Moksha, spiritual liberation. Devotees observe a fast, perform the Maha Puja and Yagna at Kapil Muni's temple at 3 AM, and then immerse themselves in the cold waters of the sacred Ganges River to purify themselves of sins.
Hindus from all across India and beyond come to take part in the Ganga Sagar Snan. However, it is especially popular among people from West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Odisha due to their proximity to the location.
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