BY TTT NEWS NETWORK
KOLKATA, 6 JANUARY 2023
The West Bengal government has beefed up the security measures for the safety of the pilgrims and religious tourists in Ganga Sagar Mela in Sagardwip. Several thousands of devotees visit this annual religious event every year, a large number of Naga sadhus also arrive.
 This year the Ganga Sagar Mela will be held from 8 January to 17 January.
From Babughat to Sagardeep about 1100 close circuit television cameras (CCTV) have been already installed.
Besides drone cameras will be used for aereal surveilances and speed boats will be used for surveilances in the water.
A hi tech mega control room has been set up at the Ganga Sagar Mela premises. Where 52 led telivision sets haveen installed and one giant screen to monitor the entire Ganga Sagar Mela area.
Besides watch towers have been set up to monitor the movements in the crowd.
This year about 2750 buses, 32 vessels, 100 launches, 21 jetties, 4 barges have been provided for the people.
A special podium has been set up in ganga Sagar this year for a Special Arati like the famous Arati which takes place in the Varanashi Ghat.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has hold a high level review meeting about the security in ganga Sagar Mela at Nabanna last month. She has urged the centre to declare the Ganga Sagar Mela as a national mela. For the first time the state government will hand over certificates to the pilgrims who are visiting the Ganga Sagar Mela.
Earlier the chief minister has inauguarted three permanent helipads for the Ganga Sagar Mela.
Places of attractions-
- Â Kapil Muni temple is one attraction where the pilgrims generally pay a visit after taking a dip as already mentioned above.
- The sea beaches are also a must visit.
- The Fairgrounds
- The Sagar Lighthouse and Port
- The Ramakrishna Mission Ashram
- Mythological significance
- A holy man, Kardam Muni, made a pact with Vishnuthat he would undergo the rigours of marital life, on the condition that Vishnu would incarnate as his son. In due time Kapil Muni was born as an incarnation of Vishnu and became a great saint. Kapil Muni’s ashram was located in the Gangasagar. One day King Sagar’s sacrificial horse disappeared; it had been stolen by Indra.
- The king sent his 60,000 sons to find it, and they found it next to Kapil Muni’s ashram, where Indra had hidden it. Mistaking Kapil Muni for the thief, the sons accused Kapil Muni, who in his wrath at the false accusation burned the sons to ash and sent their souls to Hell. Later having compassion for the King Sagar’s sons, Kapil Muni acceded to the prayers of King Sagar’s descendants, agreeing to the restoration of the sons, if river goddess Ganga would descend to Earth to perform the Last Ritual (Hindus also called as”Tarpan”) of mixing the ashes with holy water (niravapanjali).
- Through deep meditation, King Bhagiratha induced Shiva to order Ganga down from heaven and the 60,000 sons were freed (moksha) and ascended to Heaven, but the river Ganges stayed on the Earth. The date of the descent of Ganga was the date, as is at present the 15th Day of January of the Gregorian Calendarwhich coincides with that of Makar Sankranti (when Surya enters Makar Constellation, i.e. “Uttarayan” of Hindu Panchangam).
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