Suvendu govt proposes to recognise Gangasagar Mela as ‘national fair’, writes to Center

While the previous Trinamool Congress government’s repeated requests to declare Gangasagar Mela in West Bengal a ‘national fair’ fell on deaf years, the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has now written to the Union Ministry of Culture to give the weeks-long popular cultural event in the state, the same status.

The Suvendu Adhikari government has also requested financial assistance from the Centre to develop the Mela as a world-class religious tourism center. The state’s administrative headquarters at Nabanna has shot off two letters to the Centre on Wednesday requesting to work in coordination with the central leadership to develop Gangasagar as a national-level religious tourism center, sources said.

Advertisement

The letter detailed that Gangasagar Mela is one of the oldest, largest and most important religious events in the country. Every year, lakhs of pilgrims, saints and tourists from the country and abroad come to the place on Makar Sankranti. Declaring the Mela a ‘national fair’ would lead to national and international recognition, and its heritage will be preserved, documented and presented for future generations.

The central government’s cooperation and financial assistance would also help in preserving the archives of Gangasagar Mela, promote folk culture and traditional arts, it mentioned. The proposal further stated that the registration of the Mela, and establishment of a cultural interpretation center will help in promoting Gangasagar’s heritage.

The letter has also put forth the formulation of a detailed project report in consultation with all state departments including the Public Works Department, as well as, if necessary, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism of the central government.

The proposal also seeks Gangasagar Mela to be included under the Centre’s PRASAD initiative, under which important pilgrimage sites across the country are being modernised.