GANGASAGAR FAIR
FAIRS OF INDIA – GANGASAGAR FAIR
Gangasagar Mela or Fair is the second largest congregation of mankind after the Kumbha Mela. The latter is observed once in four years at alternate locations in north, central and central-west parts of the country, Gangasagar Mela and pilgrimage is held annually on the Sagar Island, it is located at the southern tip in the Ganga Delta atop the Bay of Bengal which makes Gangasagar all more distinctive.
The Gangasagar Mela was last celebrated in 2007. In this fair about 300,000 pilgrims took the holy dip where the Hooghly meets the Bay of Bengal on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. The figure was lower by around 200,000 because of Kumbh Mela.
This Sagar Island also known as Gangasagar, lies on the continental shelf of Bay of Bengal, it is about the 150 km something south of Kolkata. It belongs to the Republic of India, and governed by the State government of West Bengal. This area has 43 villages and the population of over 160,000.
