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Gangasagar Mela 2025
Context
In 2025, the Gangasagar Mela is being observed from January 10 to January 18. The festival typically starts a few days before Makar Sankranti and concludes shortly after.
About Gangasagar Mela 2025
- The Gangasagar Mela, also known as the Gangasagar Snan or Gangasagar Yatra, is an annual religious festival held on Sagar Island in the state of West Bengal.
- Sagar island is the biggest island in the Sundarbans archipelago, with a population of over two lakh people.
- It is known as the second biggest pilgrimage gathering in the world, following the Kumbh Mela.
- The annual fair runs on the holy river Gangotri banks for two months (January - February),
- Located at the confluence of the Hooghly River and the Bay of Bengal, the mela draws thousands of devotees seeking spiritual blessings.
- Gangasagar Mela is celebrated on the banks of the Ganges on the sacred day of Makar Sankranti by dipping oneself into the river and then offering prayers at the Kapil Muni's temple.
- Located about 130 km south of Kolkata, Kapil Muni temple holds a sacred and intense story behind the actual paavam beliefs being secretly followed today.
- Sage Kapil Muni, son of Kardam Muni, was one of the blessed incarnations of Lord Vishnu. At the time, King Sagar was conducting a huge prosperous Ashwamedha Yaga to win over the world. So Indra deva, the lord of the heavens, stole the sacrificial horses and hastily tied them in the patal lok(below the earth) beside Kapil Muni's Ashram out of jealousy.
- On finding the horse in Kapil Muni's Ashram, the king's sons mistook Kapil Muni as the thief and blamed him for the same. Kapil Muni was infuriated with the false blame and cursed the boys for reducing them into ashes. Later Bhagirathi, the only grandson of King Sagar, meditated for years, convincing the holy river Ganga to flow down towards the Bay of Bengal over his ancestors' cursed mortals to pour salvation into their souls.
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