Sagar Island, (WB): Braving chilly, cold, and misty weather, thousands of pilgrims from different parts of India on Tuesday took a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and Bay of Bengal to mark Makar Sankranti, official sources said.
After spending cold wintry nights in the sprawling makeshift camps, the devotees woke at dawn and took a holy dip amid multi-pronged tight security from the air, water, and surface security systems.
Sources said there were no reports of any untoward incident so far. After taking a bath, the devotees offered prayer to the Sun God from waist-deep water, then offered coconuts and sindur and chanted hymes, seeking Nirvana.
After the usual ritual on the banks of the confluence, the pilgrims attired in washed and new clothes in groups headed straight to the Kapil Muni Ashram Mandir, about 200 yards away, and offered incense sticks, sweets, and conducted puja archana at the Ganga Sagar Mela, some 100 km south of Kolkata.
Official sources said the holy bathing started on January 8 and shahi snan happened early this dawn.
Sources said at first the Naga Sadhus took the holy dip in the wee hours followed by the devotees from Bihar, Rajasthan, UP, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and other parts of the country, including West Bengal.
Devotees from Nepal were also seen arriving in groups for pilgrimage at the Gangasagar, considered one of the holiest pilgrimages after Kumbh Mela.
It is widely believed among the devotees that a holy dip at the confluence of Makar Sankranti cleanses all sins and attains Mokha.
Makar Sankranti is considered one of the most auspicious times in the year, marking the transition of the Sun from Dakshinayan to Uttarayan.
The holy dip for Makar Sankranti began at dawn today and will continue till Wednesday morning.
According to the administration, three pilgrims have died so far due to heart ailments.
The NDRF jawans reportedly recovered a body from the waters of the Sagar on Monday near Ghat 3. It is suspected that the deceased might have passed away due to illness.
Many senior Ministers are camping here at the instruction of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to oversee the arrangements.
The whole mela ground has been illuminated with multi-colored lamps and security has been tightened everywhere to ensure that no untoward incident happened.
Arrangements have been made for sufficient water pouches and 14 mobile treatment units have been deployed for the convenience of devotees.
Additionally, QR-coded wristbands are being distributed to elderly and child pilgrims to help locate them if they go missing.
Through a digital system, pilgrims can now access all fair-related information via QR codes. This includes details about drinking water, toilets, ATMs, healthcare centres, information centres, buses, launch schedules, parking details, and route directions.
Hundreds of NGOs, including Bharat Sevashram, Red Cross, and other voluntary organisations have been helping the administration for smooth bathing at the confluence and return home safely.
