AU2MQT-SAGAR ISLAND-IOTA AS-153

GANGA SAGAR MELA 2014

IOTA AS-153, SAGAR ISLAND, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

OPERATED BY MEMBERS OF WEST BENGAL RADIO CLUB, VU2MQT

9 to 16 January 2014

QSL via VU2NRO

Gangasagar fair and pilgrimage is held annually on the Sagar Island’s southern tip in the Ganges delta atop the Bay of Bengal, 128 kms away from Kolkata in West Bengal, India.

It is the second largest congregation of mankind after the holy Kumbha Mela.

Ganga Sagar Mela, also known as Ganga Sagar Yatra or Ganga Snan, is the annual gathering of Hindu pilgrims to take holy dip in River Ganga before She merges in the Bay of Bengal Sea during Makar Sankranti which usually falls in mid January every year at Sagar Island (Sagardwip). This year it is on 14 January 2014.

Thousands of Hindus take holy dip at the auspicious time on Makar Sankranti day morning and offer prayers to Lord Surya (sun god). The holy dip is believed to wash the sins away and lead to the attainment of Moksha.  

The Gangasagar fair begins a couple of day early and ends on the day after Sankranti.

 

After performing Ganga Snan, pilgrims visit the Kapilmuni Temple situated nearby. This is an ancient temple and is one of its kind in India.

 

Devotees start to arrive in the first week of January and the venue attracts maximum pilgrims on the Makar Sankranti day.

 

Accommodation for pilgrims is provided on the transit camps set up on Sagar Island.

 

Members of West Bengal Radio Club, VU2MQT operates from the Sagar island.

 

More details in:

http://s24pgs.gov.in/orig/GM2014/index.html

73

Ambarish Nag Biswas (Raju), VU2JFA

Custodian,

West Bengal Radio Club, VU2MQT

INFO FROM QRZ.COM