Kolkata, 14 January (H.S.): On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, lakhs of devotees took a holy dip at Gangasagar on Wednesday morning, reaffirming centuries-old faith and tradition associated with the sacred confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal.
According to Hindu belief dating back to the Treta Yuga, the holy Ganga descended from heaven and granted salvation to the 60,000 sons of King Sagar near the Kapil Muni Ashram on this very day. For thousands of years, devotees have followed the tradition of taking a ritual bath at Gangasagar during the same auspicious moment, seeking spiritual merit and liberation. Driven by this belief, pilgrims from across the country and abroad thronged the sacred site in large numbers.
Although no official figures had been released by the state government till Wednesday morning, estimates suggest that around 1.5 million devotees had already taken the holy dip. Kapil Muni Ashram Mahant Gyan Das said that the Sun would enter the zodiac sign of Capricorn at 9:19 pm on Wednesday, marking the formal beginning of the auspicious bathing period, which will continue until 1:20 pm on Thursday. Hence, the main Makar Sankranti holy bath is expected to witness an even larger turnout on Thursday morning.
Despite this, devotees began taking dips at the Ganga–Sagar confluence as early as 6 am on Wednesday. Men and women of all ages, including ascetics from various sects such as Naga and Nath orders, participated in the ritual bath, praying for salvation and spiritual fulfillment.
Elaborate security and administrative arrangements were put in place to ensure the safety and convenience of the pilgrims. From early morning, devotees moved from their respective camps to the confluence site under strict security supervision. Over 10,000 personnel from the police, civil defence, home guards, along with the Navy and Coast Guard, were deployed to manage the massive gathering.
According to district administration sources, more than three million pilgrims have arrived at Gangasagar this year. Once again, the Makar Sankranti festival transformed Gangasagar into a grand confluence of faith, devotion and spiritual fervour.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
