On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, pilgrims gather in thousands to take a holy dip at Gangasagar, the confluence of the river Ganges and the sea. , Photo Credit: Debashish Bhaduri
Sagar, West Bengal
Around 31 lakh pilgrims have visited the Gangasagar fair since January 5, West Bengal minister Arup Biswas said on January 13, claiming that the annual pilgrimage is becoming the largest religious gathering in the country.
Mr. Biswas, in-charge of the Sports and Youth Welfare Department of the West Bengal Government, while addressing a press conference at the Mela Ground, said that the time for holy bath during Makar Sankranti was from 6.53 pm on January 14. January 15 at 6.53 pm.
Eight ministers of the West Bengal government have been posted at strategic places along the route of the Gangasagar fair and four of them addressed a press conference at the fair grounds on Friday. The ministers, who claimed that a record number of pilgrims have turned up for the pilgrimage, said the number of pilgrims is expected to increase in the next few days. Asked how the government was arriving at the pilgrims figure, Mr Biswas said the administration was collecting details from various strategic places from where people were coming to the island.
Transport Minister Snehasish Chakraborty, who was present at the press conference, said that the number of pilgrims has increased by two to three times after COVID-19.
Lack of COVID-19 Protocols
As lakhs of pilgrims started descending on the southernmost tip of West Bengal for the Gangasagar fair, there was a complete lack of COVID-19 related protocols.
A senior government official said, “Since there has been no advisory from the Centre, and the state government has also not issued any advisory related to COVID, there is no restriction on the Gangasagar fair.” Hardly anyone was seen wearing a mask in the sea of people who landed on the island.
According to Mr. Vishwas, arrangements have been made for the stay of about 12 lakh people. Despite the claims, thousands of people were living in the open in the Kapil Muni temple area and around the beach where the river Ganges meets the sea.
Guruprasad Tripathi and Ram Shankar Singh are part of a group of 55 pilgrims who have come from Ayodhya for the Gangasagar fair. “We took a bus from Ayodhya, which they dropped on the other side of the river at Namkhana. We will cook and stay here in the open as there is no accommodation,” Mr Tripathi said. Members of the group, mostly elders, also complained about the lack of adequate toilet facilities at the venue. Thousands of people chill in the open near the temple waiting for their turn to take the holy dip.
About 14,000 policemen have been deployed at the Gangasagar fair ground. Twelve pickpockets have been arrested at the Mela ground and around Rs 30,725 has been seized from them. A temporary court has been made in the fair premises. Three pilgrims have been brought from Gangasagar to the Gangasagar fair and one pilgrim from Madhya Pradesh has died. So far 12 people have gone missing in the fair.
Since the timing of the holy dip is in the evening, the administration has arranged 33 high mast lights and 90 additional light posts to increase visibility at the ghats. About 42 active operators of Ham Radio under the West Bengal Radio Club are providing services at various strategic points on the Gangasagar route. “We are here to reunite the missing pilgrims and extend all possible help to the district administration. We are operating the protocol ‘IOTA Island on the Air’ approved by the Radio Society of Great Britain,” said Ambrish Nag Biswas, secretary of Ham Radio West Bengal Radio Club.
Highlighting the record number of pilgrims and the arrangements made by the West Bengal government, Mr Biswas accused the Center of depriving the state of West Bengal and demanded that the Gangasagar fair be given the status of a ‘national fair’ like the Kumbh Mela. Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee has also raised the demand of ‘National Fair’ for Gangasagar Fair.