Innovative Approach 2023

Gangasagar 2023 Initiatives

Gangasagar is a holy confluence where millions of devotees from the length and breadth of India pour down the banks of the Ganga to take a holy dip and eradicate sins during Makar Sankranti.

It’s a herculean task for the Government of West Bengal and the district administration to comfort the massive number of pilgrims visiting Gangasagar. Thus, new initiatives are being introduced to give the safety of pilgrims the utmost priority.

e-Puja

Prospering with the greatest efforts of e-Snan for the last two years, E-puja made an appearance in 2022. To fulfill the need ... of every devotee, South 24 Parganas crafted this top-notch initiative. Like a breath of fresh air in a metropolitan afternoon, E-puja will ease out all hardships. It is a personalized way of attaining benevolence from the Vedic ashram of Kapil Muni to the doorstep. To find yourself on the peaceful shores of Gangasagar, chanting the calming mantras of serenity, visit the E-Puja page on the official website and book a puja with their name and Gotro and pay a minimal cost. The name-beared E-Puja pack entailing prasad and Ashirwadi flower will be sent as a beneficence to Kapil Muni. This paradigm-shifting initiative is like a gratifying vibe for the religious souls who unendingly await to be a part of the biggest act of faith. Read more

e-Snan

e-Snan is a one-of-a-kind effort by the South 24 Parganas administration to help the mela to reach a global scale, overcoming ... the challenge posed by the pandemic. This innovative initiative was piloted in 2020, also the birth year of Covid 19, which had adjourned the world for quite a time. Though the universe was trying to fight against the odds persistently, e-snan never witnessed a setback. This vision gives devotees who couldn’t visit Gangasagar, the real taste of the mela at their doorsteps. Everyone can now book online and witness the pleasure of the spiritual journey from the comfort of their home with the sacred pack containing Ganga Jaal, Mitti, Prasad, and a booklet. Read more

e-Darshan

India is a country that celebrates distinct religious diversity and colorful festivals. One of them is Gangasagar Mela.The ... essence of the congregation is where pilgrims from various places in the world assemble together with the hope of purifying their souls. Thus on the days of Makar Sankranti, Gangasagar experiences a culturally vibrant gathering from the entire world. Abducting the opportunity of walking down the aisle of Moksha from the devotees due to COVID 19 would have been intractable. So, the administration came up with a master plan and gave birth to E-Darshan. A distinctive initiative that brings Gangasagar, the biggest act of faith within fingertips. It will continue this year too. It is specially hatched for pilgrims who desired to visit the devotional destination but couldn’t but can take a feel of the divine from their home. The Gangasagar website being an interactive new-age media, will decode important information related to mela and transmitted Live Coverage of the act directly from the mela ground. A dedicated social media page will provide the latest activities and memorable moments of mela too. Read more

Sagar Pravachan

Pilgrimage remains incomplete without its share of lore and enlightenment that one experiences through the sermon of saints, ... and Gangasagar is no different. To discover more such awakenings and fulfill the famine for knowledge that would liberate humankind from the cycle of death and rebirth, emerges Pravachan Kendra. A spiritual hub initiated by the District Authorities of South 24 Parganas. It offers pilgrims a rare opportunity to intervene on the shores that mirror the tranquility of a Vedic ashram through meditation and lessons allowing them to leave behind their earthy troubles. Read more

Sagar Sangharalaya

Gangasagar, is the epitome of an immense historical treasure trove. People visiting the land of faith by learning the myth ... isn’t enough to convey the story to the rising generation and awaken the flames of faith in them. To keep the tradition and memoir alive, the administration has created Sagar Sanghralaya. An emotion that presents the devotees with an amazing opportunity to immerse themselves in the enriched history of the Gangasagar mela. Like an open cascade of gemstones, it is a collective takeaway of the greatest findings about devotional destiny. This museum will be open to every pilgrim who lands on the devotional land. The Sangrahalaya will be a collection of historical and mythological events from Gangasagar represented in an interactive creating a lasting impression in the hearts of the pilgrims. Read more

Sagar Arati

One’s entire existence and all facets of material creation are symbolically offered to the Lord via the arati ceremony. It is ... a descendant of the Vedic ritual of fire. Like every devotional destination with a strong religious magnitude, Arati has always been a pulse of Gangasagar Mela too. For ages, it has witnessed the act of faith commencing from the slightest to the mightiest, where the myriad of practices and beliefs are woven in a beautiful saga for centuries. It is a doorway that brings people together beyond the confines of religion. This year, our traditional Ganga Arati is getting a completely new makeover. This year, the district administration will take this initiative up a notch. The Arati will be mounted in a series of events spanning over three days 12th, 13th, and 14th January 2023. Beneath the serene shores of the divine land will interweave the clanging of dhamsha. The thumping of dhaaks, the rhythmic hymns, the trumpet of the conch, and the prayers of millions will make the event vibrant and more colorful than ever. Read more

Nirikkhan

In an ancient congregation as large as Gangasagar, where people inundate the shores of the holy confluence, the fateful ... occurrence is a probability. Wherefore, CCTV surveillance is the primary tool for controlling crowds. Real-time tracking of pilgrims will be done for which 1150 CCTV cameras will be installed at all important locations. 20 Drone-based tracking and GPS-guided Intelligent Crowd Monitoring will be done through an Integrated Control Room. Transmission of Live feed will be provided to Nabanna Control Room as well. Read more

Free Wi-Fi Zones

Pilgrims across India visit Gangasagar during Makar Sankranti. They walk to Gangasagar with a wish to destroy past sins in ... pursuit of moksha. Keeping an eye on the well-being of those pilgrims and the bond with their families, communication at Gangasagar is now made easy through 24/7 mobile & internet connectivity, 7 Wi-Fi zones, Wi-Fi calling, and Free calling zones will ensure hassle-free inter-communication. Read more

Bandhan

An enchanted pilgrimage like that of Gangasagar deserves comfort in millions of souls who join the journey for the pursuit ... of moksha in the devotional destiny. Though the belief in destroying sins at the holy confluence has been sown for ages, they wish to be returned with a souvenir, making their journey worthy. This year, the district administration has come up with the initiative "Bandhan." A small effort to bridge the gap between pilgrims and the government. It is an acknowledgment, paying heartfelt gratitude for the odds the devotees travel to reach Sagar Island. Photo Booths with Camera and customized software will be set up. A personalized certificate bearing the photo of the pilgrim and a loving note from the administration will be awarded to the pilgrims reaching the land of spirituality. Pilgrims will fondly regard this as their priced possession. A beautiful memory will linger of Gangasagar in their minds forever, making them return every year. Read more

Banglar Mandir

Bengal has always been regarded as the land of devotion. Here, the wishes of millions get fulfilled and many prayers have been ... answered.Thus,pilgrims across West Bengal and states bordering it, pay visits to ‘Sati Peethas’ (shrines said to house the cosmic remains of Goddess Sati) and several other holy shires before the pursuit of moksha. This year, the wishes of millions will get fulfilled in the land of Gangasagar itself. The pilgrims will have the opportunity to sense the tranquillity of iconic holy shrines of Bengal, like Kalighat, Dakshineswar, Tarapith, Tarakeswar, and Johura Kalibari. Gangasagar will become a living embodiment of Bengal's iconic holy shrines. The massive 3D models will create a sense of spiritualism transforming Sagardwip into a fascinating land. Read more

Pilgrim Transport Management System

Gangasagar is a metaphor for life itself. Full of uncertainty, a twist of fate, and dangers, it is still devastatingly ... beautiful and the ray of a belief that burns bright by dipping into the holy waters will purify the soul and open the gateway to moksha. Legends of the Gangasagar often describe the journey to Sagar Island as a perilous one dealing with harsh physical conditions. With the interference of technology in 2022, even the journey toward the land of moksha is now validated by the Pilgrim Transport Management System (PTMS). In the chilly, foggy morning of January, navigation channels with zero visibility will be marked by PTMS. The GPS tracking on all vessels will provide real-time analysis of data leading to crowd management at its best. A safe passage into the shores of the serene will be ensured by the GPS tracking of PTMS. Read more

Environment-friendly Mela

To walk down the path of the divine in pursuit of moksha, one must purify their soul. But, we tend to keep ourselves clean and ... pollute our surroundings. This would incur nothing but the wrath of the mighty and the destruction of the planet. Thus, the district administration of South 24 Parganas along with the Bakkkhali Development Authority disapproves of the usage of plastic. Instead, they have taken the oath to make Gangasagar environment-friendly in 2023. There will be a distribution of earth-friendly materials. Awareness campaigns and promotional activities will be held by local communities. Litter management will be kept in constant check at every step. More than 10,000 permanent & semi-permanent toilets are erected with proper night soil disposal arrangements. 7 Solid Waste Management Units will be functional. 30 e-carts will be deployed for garbage collection. 3000 personnel will be in charge of sweeping and waste disposal. No stones are to be left unturned to make the land of serenity pristine, inside out. Read more