Pilgrims Across Country Starts Arriving At Gangasagar Mela – SEE PICS

After the Kumbh Mela, the Gangasagar Mela is the world's second-largest human congregation at the confluence of the holy river Ganga and the Bay of Bengal.

Kapil Muni temple

Gangasagar, Bengal's largest and longest living tradition, has been described in Indian epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata, dating back to 400 BCE. According to legend, Queen Satyabhama built the first Kapil Muni's temple around 430 AD, and Swami Ramanand created the current idol in 1437, ushering in a pilgrimage that continues to this day. (Image Source: PTI)

A Hindu Sadhu checking his phone before the Ganga-Sagar mela (pilgrimage) at Sagar island, which marks the confluence of the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal. (Image Source: Getty)

Gangasagar's story is one of moksha. The breaking free from the cycle of life and death It tells the story of Bhagirath, who liberated the souls of 60,000 sons from the unending flames of hell after performing their final rites with sacred Ganges water. (Image Source: Getty)

Gangasagar is more than just a pilgrimage; it is a complex intertwining of passion and faith. In many regions of India, it is harvest season, while in others, it is the season of new beginnings. (Image Source: PTI)

People from all walks of life gather to thank the sun god for a bountiful harvest. (Image Source: Getty)

The Gangasagar Mela is held during the auspicious Makar Sankranti festival. Sankranti is the time when the sun moves from one rashi to the next. (Image Source: Getty)

According to astrology, the sun enters the Makar Rashi (house of Saturn), emphasising the importance of relationships. (Image Source: Getty)