Tens of thousands of devotees
have assembled at the Sagar
Island in West Bengal to take a
dip tomorrow early morning in the Ganga where it flows
out into the Bay of Bengal on the occasion of Makar
Sankranti. The state government has
made elaborate arrangements
for the annual Gangasagar fair
began today. Over four lakh devotees have
reached the island with around
20,000 more waiting on the
other side of the river Buriganga. As
there is no Kumbh Mela this
year, the number of pilgrims is likely to increase. About 150 km from
Kolkata in
South 24-Parganas district, this
island is considered auspicious
by the Hindus, who gather here
on Makar Sankranti, which is
annually celebrated Jan 14, for a holy dip and to pray by
offering coconuts at the Kapil
Muni temple. The devout believe that a
single dip in the sacred water
washes off sins of one's
lifetime. This year, the pilgrims
will take the holy dip on Sunday
too. A three-pronged security
arrangement has been made
with 14 hovercrafts already at
hand and helicopters to be
deployed to keep a vigil. Adequate number of
buses, boats and taxis has been
arranged for transportation of
the devotees. They will also be
provided drinking water in
pouches free of cost. For sanitation, 1,000 temporary
and one mobile toilet would be
provided.
--A. B.
have assembled at the Sagar
Island in West Bengal to take a
dip tomorrow early morning in the Ganga where it flows
out into the Bay of Bengal on the occasion of Makar
Sankranti. The state government has
made elaborate arrangements
for the annual Gangasagar fair
began today. Over four lakh devotees have
reached the island with around
20,000 more waiting on the
other side of the river Buriganga. As
there is no Kumbh Mela this
year, the number of pilgrims is likely to increase. About 150 km from
Kolkata in
South 24-Parganas district, this
island is considered auspicious
by the Hindus, who gather here
on Makar Sankranti, which is
annually celebrated Jan 14, for a holy dip and to pray by
offering coconuts at the Kapil
Muni temple. The devout believe that a
single dip in the sacred water
washes off sins of one's
lifetime. This year, the pilgrims
will take the holy dip on Sunday
too. A three-pronged security
arrangement has been made
with 14 hovercrafts already at
hand and helicopters to be
deployed to keep a vigil. Adequate number of
buses, boats and taxis has been
arranged for transportation of
the devotees. They will also be
provided drinking water in
pouches free of cost. For sanitation, 1,000 temporary
and one mobile toilet would be
provided.
--A. B.
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