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Ganga Sagar Mela : Historical Significance

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Poush Sankranti means Uttarayan Sankranti. And from ancient times, Uttarayan Kaal is the best time to start auspicious works in our country. And Ganga Sagar Mela held during this Makar Sankranti. Sagardwip - the old island of Sundarban area in the coast of Bay of Bengal, and its ancient name is Shwetdwip (the white island). The southern part of it, where river Ganga meets Sagar, named Ganga Sagar. Once upon a time, the Sagardwip was full of inhabitants in an area of 170 square miles. About 2 lakh people plunged in typhoon in the year 1688 and since then, the island remained abandoned for ages. The foreign merchants and English re-discovered the island abandoned. In the year 1727, Alexander Hamilton mentioned it as a sacred pilgrimage for Hindus. Since ancient times, sages and pilgrims used to take holy dip here. In the eighteenth century, the island became a harbour. William Hicky wrote in his book 'Memoirs Of William Hicky' that he landed here from Madras by ship