Ganga Sagar Snan, also famous as ‘Ganga Sagar Mela’ or ‘Ganga Sagar Yatra’ is a significant gathering of the Hindu pilgrims during the auspicious time of ‘Makar Sankranti’. It is an annual observance that takes place at the Sagar Island or ‘Sagardweep’ in the state of West Bengal. Hindu devotees in thousands of number gather at this place to take a holy dip in Ganga River before She merges in the Bay of Bengal. During the Ganga Sagar Snan, a biggest fair is organized that fetches devotees from each and every corner of the country. The Ganga Sagar fair starts few days before and ends one day after Sankranti.

Ganga Sagar Snan is a very religious and important ritual for Hindu devotees. This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal in the culturally rich state of Bengal. Ganga Sagar Snan is only done during Makar Sankranti (an astrological event that marks the transition of Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn Zodiac sign) and falls on the 14th of January, every year. On this day, devotees from various parts of the country and abroad, come to take a dip in holy water of Ganges. It is believed that by performing this ritualistic bath, all the sins of the person will be washed away. Ganga Sagar Snan is observed with great fanfare all over the country. The festivities may vary from region to region, but the spirit of this festival remains unchanged.

Ganga Sagar Snan 2022 is on January 14 Friday Rituals during Ganga Sagar Snan

Hindu devotees gather at around 3am on the day of Ganga Sagar Snan to perform the worshipping ceremony of legendary Kapil Muni. After the completion of Kapila puja, the Yagna and Maha Puja are performed.

On the day of Ganga Sagar Snan, devotees get up very early to take the holy dip at the time of sunrise. They offer ‘arghya’ to the rising Sun and offer prayers to Sun God. While taking the holy dip, devotees express their gratitude towards Goddess Ganga and pray for Her divine blessings.

Devotees also keep a strict fast on the day of Ganga Sagar Snan and abstain from eating or drinking anything till the time of completion of puja rituals.

After completing the Ganga Snan rituals, devotees also visit the Kapilmuni Temple, located nearby. It is a unique and one-of-its-kind temple in India that is dedicated to Saint Kapil

Significance of Ganga Sagar Snan

Ganga Sagar Snan is one of the most important annual events for people of Hindu community. This day is dedicated to worshipping Goddess Ganga and Sun God. The observance of Ganga Sagar Snan on the day of Makar Sankranti also holds a special relevance. Makar Sankranti is an auspicious day in the Hindu calendar that is dedicated to worshipping Lord Surya. On this particular day, Sun transits to Capricorn from Sagittarius and it marks as the beginning of the good times in the Hindu culture, when all auspicious activities can be performed. According to the Hindu legends it is believed that one who perform the sacred Ganga Sagar Snan will be pardoned for all sins and in the end attain ‘moksha’ or salvation.

Mythological Story of Gangasagar

GangaSagar, the sacred place of India is primarily important for the temple of Kapil Muni, the great saint who as per the myth was Lord Vishnu. According to the Mythology Kardam Muni had to go through his marital Kardam Muni agreed on this under a condition that Muni wished to Lord Vishnu to have him as his son. To fulfill Muni’s wishes, Lord Vishnu had taken birth on this earth as the son of Debahuti and Kardam Muni. They used to name their son Kapil. Soon the boy completed his education, he became famous for the introduction of the doctrine “Sankhya Philosophy“.

Kapil Muni’s mythological ‘story is related to the story of bringing the holy river Ganga at this place. On the suggestion of the sage Aurva, King Sagara started to perform ‘Ashvamedha Yagna’ which is supposed to be a vehicle to propitiate Lord Hari himself. The sacrificial horses were set out to roam free around the country before closing the “Yagna’. Debraj Indra hid one of the sacrificial horses. With a view to concluding the sacrifice, King Sagara commanded his sixty thousand sons to go, search and locate the lost horse. The sons of Sagara were deluded as Indra (the Lord of the senses) destroyed their sense of discrimination. Finding the horse tied close to the hermitage of sage Kapila, the sons of Sagara started abusing the sage of stealing the horse and in fact wanted to kill him with their weapons.

History of Gangasagar Mela

At this point, the sage opened his eyes and blaze of anger came out of his eye-balls, which burnt King’s sons & consigned their soul into hell instantly. Sagara was very sad at the death of his sons. He wanted to bring back the horse and purify the soul of his sons. Then Raja Sagar sent his grandson Anshuman in search of his 60, 000 sons and the lost horse. He traced his uncles’ footsteps and arrived at Kapil Muni’s Ashram‘. He saw the lost horse and mound of ashes near the hermitage. He brought the horseback from the sage. He also begged him to redeem the soul of the 60,000 sons of King Sagar. Kapil Muni suggested he bring the Ganga on ‘Prithvi” so that her holy water can only give them ‘Mukti’ (emancipation). So King Anshuman and thereafter his son Dilip started to perform ‘Tapasya’ (penance) to bring the Ganga on earth. Neither Anshuman nor his son Dilip was successful In this task. They died before finishing the ‘Tapasya’. Bhagirath, the son of Dilip and great-grandson of Sagara was determined to get their task done. Vishnu, the preserver when prayed by Bhagiratha agreed to allow the heavenly Ganga issuing from his big toe to come down on earth. Ganga apprehended the devastation of the earth by the pressure of her flow. Only Shiva’s powerful hair could control the force of Ganga. Bhagiratha requested Shiva to help him. As soon as Ganga flowed down, Lord Shiva collected her water in his hair in the form of many small streams. Ganga then followed Bhagiratha to the place where the ashes of his ancestors were lying. Holy water flowed on and purified the ashes of Bhagiratha’s ancestors. Thereafter Ganga is also called ‘Bhagirathi’ after the name of Bhagiratha. The ocean becomes popular as ‘Sagar’ after the name of King Sagara. This island as the estuarine of Sagara and Ganga comes to be known as “Sagardwip“.