• UGI USER
  • Jan 16, 2024
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GANGA SAGAR MELA

Why in the News?

  • Rising sea level and beach erosion near Kapil Muni temple affect the vibrancy of the annual Ganga Sagar Mela.
  • About one kilometer of the beach in front of the temple is covered with mud, posing challenges for pilgrims.
Source: India birds

Government’s Response:

  • The West Bengal government seeks “national fair status” for the religious congregation amid environmental challenges.
  • Warning signs and diversions are implemented, redirecting pilgrims to alternative beaches on the island.
  • Tetrapods, wave-dissipating concrete blocks, are installed along the Ganga Sagar beach to combat erosion.
About Gangasagar Mela

·   Gangasagar Mela is the world’s second-largest human gathering, following Kumbh.

·   Annual event during Makar Sankranti at Sagar Island.

·   Referenced in ancient Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, dating back to 400 BCE.

·   Pilgrims take a dip in the Ganga and visit the Kapil Muni temple.

About Kapila Muni

·   Kapila or Maharishi Kapila is a Vedic sage credited with originating the Samkhya system of Indian philosophy.

·   Believed to have lived in the sixth or seventh century C.E. in the Indian subcontinent.

·   Described in the Puranas as an incarnation of Vishnu.

·   Kapila taught bhakti yoga, a process of liberation.

·   Buddhist sources acknowledge him as a prominent philosopher, with his students founding the city of Kapilavastu.