Soon after the conclusion of the Gangasagar Mela, the South 24-Parganas district administration on Friday launched an extensive cleanliness drive across all beaches in the mela zone.
Gangasagar Mela, known for its sea of pilgrims, sacred dips and a colourful assembly of ascetics, has found an unlikely star this year ~ Pakora Baba.
At least four persons in various forms of distress were either rescued or assisted by amateur radio (HAM) operators over the last five days at the Gangasagar Mela.
The department of posts, West Bengal Circle, has issued a special philatelic cover commemorating the Gangasagar Mela-2026.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that the Gangasagar Mela has transcended state and national boundaries to emerge as one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations in the world, attracting millions of devotees every year.
The confluence of the holy River Ganges and the Bay of Bengal is known as Gangasagar, one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in Hinduism.
A major fire broke out at the Gangasagar Mela site in the early hours of Friday, just ahead of the start of the annual pilgrimage, triggering panic and raising serious questions over fire safety arrangements at one of the country’s largest religious congregations.
In a major boost to safety and disaster preparedness, the South 24-Parganas district administration is set to deploy advanced water drones for underwater rescue operations during the Gangasagar Mela, coinciding with the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal.
With only a few days left for the annual Gangasagar Mela, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday visited Sagar Island to review last-minute preparations and laid the foundation stone of the long-awaited four-lane bridge over the Muriganga river.
The Sealdah division earned more than Rs 25 lakh from ticket sales at two stations of Namkhana and Kakdwip during six days of Gangasagar Mela.
