Snapshots from the Gangasagar Mela A sea of humanity descends on Sagar Island,at the tip of West Bengal,on Makar Sankranti every year. This year,over six lakh devotees the old and frail,the young and innocent,the powerful,the ordinary travelled from across the country and outside for a dip in the Gangasagar,the confluence of the Ganga river and the Bay of Bengal. Braving icy winds,they dipped in chilly waters,pushed and shoved for a quick darshan at the nearby Kapil Muni Ashram,and slept in makeshift tents,as well as in the open on the shore. All in an effort to wash off their sins. As much as the annual ritual was spiritual,it was also celebratory. The bonfires,the chatter of the pilgrims,the well-performed aartis lent a festive air to the pilgrimage.
