Kolkata: Millions of devotees from across India and abroad are expected to attend and take a holy dip in the confluence of river Ganga at the annual Gangasagar Fair in West Bengal on Makar Sankranti.
Adequate security arrangements have been made by the state government. Temporary shelters have been built for people coming from a long distance and the elderly.
A huge number of stationary toilets have been built for the pilgrims to keep the premises clean.
Situated about 150 kms away from Kolkata in the South 24 Parganas district, this island is considered auspicious by the Hindus.
They gather there at this time of the year to take a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal and pray by offering a coconut at the Kapil Muni temple.
The Gangasagar Mela is rated as the second largest assembly of people after the Kumbha Mela.
The devotees believe that a dip in the sacred water at this time of the year washes off sins of a lifetime.
Security arrangements have been beefed up in the area by the state government and the Indian Coast Guards.
Drones and CCTVs have also been deployed to keep a tab on the devotees while other arrangements have been made to guard the coastline by the Indian Coast Guards. A rapid action team has also been deployed.
A large number of LED screens have been placed at different points in the area through which pilgrims would be updated about the timings and tariff of trains, buses, ferries and tide timings as well as safety precautions.
Kalinga AI