50 lakh pilgrims take holy dip at Gangasagar on Makar Sankranti

Around 50 lakh pilgrims from different parts of country, and neighbouring Banglesh and Nepal, took a holy dip on confluence of Ganga and Bay of Bengal on occasion of Makar Sankranti.

Around 50 lakh people h congregated here for pilgrim, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday.

"Like Kumbh Mela, we have Gangasagar Mela in #Bangla. Just got good news that number of pilgrims attending has touched 50-lakh mark. Am so proud and happy to share this news with you," Banerjee tweeted on Wednesday evening.

Every year on Makar Sankranti, lakhs of Hindus flock to Sagar Island in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district to take holy dip and offer prayers at Kapil Muni temple.

"Last year, we h a record number of 20 lakh pilgrims visiting island. This year, that record has been broken. It was peaceful and pilgrims have also appreciated our arrangements," an official said.

Security has been beefed up in island, around 100 km from Kolkata, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is monitoring situation, officials said.

Besides deploying senior officers, around 10,000 police personnel and volunteers have been posted for garing -- Gangasagar Mela.

Security officials are also keeping a watch on waters and patrolling is being done, y said.

Drones and around 1,000 CCTV cameras have been put up, and several watch towers set up.

West Bengal government, for first time this year, is using an air ambulance at Sagar Island, officials said.

Pilgrims also visited at several ghats in or parts of West Bengal, including Kolkata and Howrah.

Amid tight security, thousands of people participated in rituals at Babughat, Doi ghat, Baje Kamtala ghat, Saramani ghat, Ratanbabur ghat, Bagbazar ghat and Kumartuli ghat, all on banks of Hooghly river in Kolkata, y said.

In districts as well, thousands of people took a dip at sunrise.

Makar Sankranti marks end of month with winter solstice and start of longer days.

It is kwn by various names in different parts of country and in West Bengal it is celebrated as Poush Sankranti.

Im courtesy: PTI