Gangasagar

2021-08-31T00:00:28Z

47.18.161.121:

{{Distinguish|Gangasagara}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Gangasagar
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline = Kapil Muni Temple.jpg
| image_alt =
| imagesize = 300px
| image_caption = Kapil Muni Ashram
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_mapsize = 300
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in West Bengal##Location in India
| coordinates = {{coord|21.6528|N|88.0753|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|..West Bengal Flag(INDIA).png}} [[West Bengal]]
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = [[South 24 Parganas]]
| subdivision_type3 = CD Block
| subdivision_name3 = [[Sagar (community development block)|Sagar]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 12.26
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 4
| population_total = 10340
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]<ref name="wblangoff">{{cite web|title=Fact and Figures|url=https://wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/facts-and-figures;jsessionid=JzdD9RHb7aMY5esZPtcsIVLy|website=Wb.gov.in|access-date=5 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=Nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=5 July 2019|page=85|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>
| demographics1_title2 = Additional official
| demographics1_info2 = [[English language|English]]<ref name="wblangoff"/>
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code = 743606
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = +91 3210
| registration_plate = [[List of Regional Transport Office districts in India#WB.E2.80.94West Bengal|WB]]-19 to [[List of Regional Transport Office districts in India#WB.E2.80.94West Bengal|WB]]-22, [[List of Regional Transport Office districts in India#WB.E2.80.94West Bengal|WB]]-95 to [[List of Regional Transport Office districts in India#WB.E2.80.94West Bengal|WB]]-99
| blank1_name_sec1 = Lok Sabha constituency
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Mathurapur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Mathurapur (SC)]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = Vidhan Sabha constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Sagar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Sagar]]
| website = {{URL|www.s24pgs.gov.in}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Gangasagar''' is a village and a [[gram panchayat]] within the jurisdiction of the Sagar police station in the [[Sagar (community development block)|Sagar]] [[Community development block in India|CD block]] in the [[Kakdwip subdivision]] of the [[South 24 Parganas]] district in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]].

==Mythological Significance==
{{main|Kapila#Birth of the Ganges|Bhagiratha#Bringing the Ganges to Earth}}
[[File:Kapil Muni Ashram.JPG|thumb|left|Kapil Muni Ashram at Gangasagar]]
A holy man, Kardam Muni, made a pact with [[Vishnu]] that he would undergo the rigours of marital life, on the condition that Vishnu would incarnate as his son. In due time [[Kapila|Kapil Muni]] was born as an incarnation of Vishnu and became a great saint. Kapil Muni's [[ashram]] was located in the Gangasagar. One day [[Sagara (Vedic king)|King Sagar's]] [[Ashvamedha|sacrificial]] horse disappeared; it had been stolen by Indra.

The king sent his 60,000 sons to find it, and they found it next to Kapil Muni's ashram, where Indra had hidden it. Mistaking Kapil Muni for the thief, the sons accused Kapil Muni, who in his wrath at the false accusation burned the sons to ash and sent their souls to [[Naraka (Hinduism)|Hell]]. Later having compassion for the King Sagar's sons, Kapil Muni acceded to the prayers of King Sagar's descendants, agreeing to the restoration of the sons, if [[Parvati]] in the form of the river goddess Ganga would descend to Earth to perform the Last Ritual (Hindus also called as"Tarpan") of mixing the ashes with holy water (''[[niravapanjali]]'').

Through [[Tapas (Sanskrit)|deep meditation]], King Bhagiratha induced Shiva to order Ganga down from heaven and the 60,000 sons were freed (''[[moksha]]'') and ascended to Heaven, but the river Ganges stayed on the Earth. The date of the descent of Ganga was the date, as is at present the 15th Day of January of the [[Gregorian Calendar]] which coincides with that of [[Makar Sankranti]] (when Surya enters Makar Constellation, i.e. "[[Uttarayan]]" of [[Hindu]] [[Panchangam]]).<ref name="Dasgupta" /><ref>[[Mahabharata|The Mahabharata]] translated by [[Kisari Mohan Ganguli]] (1883 -1896), Book 3: [[Vana Parva]]: Tirtha-yatra Parva: [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03107.htm Section 107], [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03108.htm Section 108] and [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03109.htm Section 109].</ref>

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
| width=350| height=350| zoom=10
| coord={{coord|21|43|0|N|88|14|0|E}}| float=left|caption='''Places in Kakdwip subdivision (Kakdwip, Sagar, Namkhana, Patharpratima CD blocks) in South 24 Parganas district''' R: rural/ urban centre Places linked with coastal activity are marked in blue Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
|mark-coord1={{coord|21|52|33|N|88|11|7|E}} | label-pos1=bottom|label1= Kakdwip| numbered1=R| mark-title1= [[Kakdwip]] (R)|label-color1= #800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1=#C42222 |shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|21|52|47|N|88|9|58|E}} | label-pos2=left|label2= Harwood Point| numbered2=R| mark-title2= [[Harwood Point]] (R) |shape-color2=#0048BA
|mark-coord3={{coord|21|46|11|N|88|13|53|E}} | label-pos3=right|label3= Namkhana| numbered3=R| mark-title3= [[Namkhana]] (R)
|mark-coord4={{coord|21|35|6|N|88|15|30|E}} | label-pos4=right|label4= Fraserganj| numbered4=R| mark-title4= [[Fraserganj]] (R) |shape-color4=#0048BA
|mark-coord5={{coord|21|44|44|N|88|5|39|E}} | label-pos5=right|label5= Rudranagar| numbered5=R| mark-title5= [[Rudranagar]] (R)
|mark-coord6={{coord|21|38|50|N|88|4|31|E}} | label-pos6=right|label6= Gangasagar| numbered6=R| mark-title6= [[Gangasagar]] (R) |shape-color6=black| label-size6=13|label-color6=black 
|mark-coord7={{coord|21|47|48|N|88|21|19|E}} | label-pos7=left|label7= Patharpratima| numbered7=R| mark-title7= [[Patharpratima, South 24 Parganas]] (R)
|mark-coord8={{coord|21|38|53|N|88|24|16|E}} | label-pos8=left|label8= Gobardhanpur| numbered8=R| mark-title8= [[Gobardhanpur]] (R) |shape-color8=#0048BA
|mark-coord9={{coord|21|53|30|N|88|12|40|E}} | label-pos9=right|label9= Ganespur| numbered9=R| mark-title9= [[Ganespur]] (R)
|mark-coord10={{coord|21|48|14|N|88|22|25|E}} | label-pos10=right|label10= Ramganga| numbered10=R| mark-title10= [[Ramganga, South 24 Parganas]] (R)
|mark-coord11={{coord|21|45|25|N|88|5|53|E}} | label-pos11=right|label11= Harinbari| numbered11=R| mark-title11= [[Harinbari]] (R)
|mark-coord12={{coord|21|33|47|N|88|15|34|E}} | label-pos12=right|label12= Bakkhali| numbered12=R| mark-title12= [[Bakkhali]] (R) |shape-color12=#0048BA
|mark-coord13={{coord|21.7858 |N|88.0853|E}}| label13=Sagar Island| label-color13 = Black| label-angle13=-0| label-pos13=right| label-size13=10| mark-size13=0| mark-title13=none
|mark-coord14={{coord|21.7858 |N|88.0163|E}}| label14=Hooghly River| label-color14 = #77A1CB| label-angle14=-60| label-pos14=right| label-size14=10| mark-size14=0| mark-title14=none
|arc-coordC={{coord|21.5658|N|88.0763|E}}| arc-textC= Bay of Bengal | arc-text-colorC = soft blue| arc-angleC=200| arc-gapC=-1.0| arc-radiusC=1.6| arc-text-sizeC=14}}

===Area overview===
Kakdwip subdivision has full rural population. The entire district is situated in the [[Ganges Delta]]. The southern part of the delta has numerous channels and islands such as the [[Henry Island (India)|Henry Island]], [[Sagar Island]], Frederick Island and Fraserganj Island. The subdivision is a part of the [[Sundarbans settlements]]. A comparatively recent country-wide development is the guarding of the coastal areas by special coastal forces. The area attracts large number of tourists – Gangasagar and Fraserganj-Bakkhali are worth mentioning. Gobardhanpur holds a promise for the future.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook |title = District Statistical Handbook 2014 South Twety-four Parganas|work= Table 2.1 , 2.2, 2.4b |publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal |access-date = 5 December 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1917_PART_A_DCHB_SOUTH%20TWENTY%20FOUR%20PARGANAS.pdf| title = Census of India 2011, West Bengal, District Census Handbook, South Twentyfour Parganas, Series – 20, Part XII-A, Village and Town Directory |work= Page 13, Physigraphy| publisher = Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal |access-date = 5 December 2019}}</ref><ref >{{cite web | url = http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/24%20pgsSouth/s24prg_main.htm | title = District Human Development Report: South 24 Parganas | work = Chapter 9: Sundarbans and the Remote Islanders, p 290-311 | publisher = Development & Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2009 | access-date = 5 December 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161005044029/http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/24%20pgsSouth/s24prg_main.htm | archive-date = 5 October 2016 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

===Location===
[[File:Sunset at Gangasagar.jpg|thumb|Sunset at Gangasagar]]
Gangasagar is located at {{coord|21.6528|N|88.0753|E|format=dms}}. It has an average elevation of {{convert|4|m}}.

===Climate===
{{Weather box
| location = Gangasagar (1981–2010, extremes 1865–2010)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| width = auto
| Jan record high C = 30.6
| Feb record high C = 33.9
| Mar record high C = 38.3
| Apr record high C = 39.4
| May record high C = 38.7
| Jun record high C = 40.0
| Jul record high C = 36.1
| Aug record high C = 36.7
| Sep record high C = 36.1
| Oct record high C = 34.0
| Nov record high C = 32.9
| Dec record high C = 32.9
| year record high C = 40.0
| Jan high C = 25.0
| Feb high C = 27.2
| Mar high C = 30.0
| Apr high C = 31.6
| May high C = 32.5
| Jun high C = 31.8
| Jul high C = 30.8
| Aug high C = 30.9
| Sep high C = 31.1
| Oct high C = 31.0
| Nov high C = 29.0
| Dec high C = 25.9
| year high C = 29.7
| Jan low C = 16.0
| Feb low C = 19.8
| Mar low C = 23.9
| Apr low C = 25.9
| May low C = 26.7
| Jun low C = 27.1
| Jul low C = 26.8
| Aug low C = 26.5
| Sep low C = 26.4
| Oct low C = 24.9
| Nov low C = 21.2
| Dec low C = 17.4
| year low C = 23.6
| Jan record low C = 7.8
| Feb record low C = 7.2
| Mar record low C = 12.2
| Apr record low C = 12.9
| May record low C = 17.5
| Jun record low C = 18.0
| Jul record low C = 16.2
| Aug record low C = 16.4
| Sep record low C = 17.6
| Oct record low C = 17.2
| Nov record low C = 12.2
| Dec record low C = 9.4
| year record low C = 7.2
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 12.5
| Feb rain mm = 24.8
| Mar rain mm = 17.3
| Apr rain mm = 46.2
| May rain mm = 144.9
| Jun rain mm = 303.9
| Jul rain mm = 319.9
| Aug rain mm = 345.7
| Sep rain mm = 319.2
| Oct rain mm = 195.7
| Nov rain mm = 53.3
| Dec rain mm = 3.6
| year rain mm = 1787.1
| Jan rain days = 0.9
| Feb rain days = 1.5
| Mar rain days = 1.6
| Apr rain days = 2.5
| May rain days = 6.1
| Jun rain days = 10.7
| Jul rain days = 13.6
| Aug rain days = 15.4
| Sep rain days = 11.7
| Oct rain days = 6.7
| Nov rain days = 1.7
| Dec rain days = 0.3
| year rain days = 72.7
| time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 70
| Feb humidity = 73
| Mar humidity = 76
| Apr humidity = 81
| May humidity = 81
| Jun humidity = 83
| Jul humidity = 85
| Aug humidity = 84
| Sep humidity = 83
| Oct humidity = 77
| Nov humidity = 72
| Dec humidity = 69
| year humidity = 78
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Gangasagar (Sagar Island) Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 677–678
| access-date = 18 January 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
According to the [[2011 Census of India]], Gangasagar had a total population of 10,340, of which 5,228 (51%) were males and 5,112 (49%) were females. There were 1,440 persons in the age range of 0 to 6 years. The total number of literate people in Gangasagar was 7,437 (83.56% of the population over 6 years).<ref name=census2011>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/pca/cdb_pca_census/Houselisting-housing-WB.html |title = C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA) | work= West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks|publisher= Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India | access-date = 24 October 2019}}</ref>

==Civic administration==
===Police station===
Gangasagar Coastal police station covers an area of 77.72 km2. It has jurisdiction over parts of the Sagar CD block. The coastal police stations were formed with the objective of effective policing of the remote areas of the Sundarbans. The police has regular river patrols.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://sundarbanpolicedistrict.org/each_police_station?psname=SAGAR|title = Sagar Police Station | work= Sundarban police district |publisher= West Bengal police | access-date = 24 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook | title = District Statistical Handbook 2014 South 24 Parganas | work = Table No. 2.1 | publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal | access-date = 24 October 2019}}</ref>

==Culture==
[[File:Pilgrims - Gangasagar Fair Transit Camp - Kolkata 2012-01-14 0587.JPG|thumb|Gangasagar Fair Transit Camp, 2012]]
Gangasagar is a place of Hindu pilgrimage. Every year on the day of [[Makar Sankranti]] (14 January), hundreds of thousands of Hindus gather to take a holy dip at the confluence of river Ganges and Bay of Bengal and offer prayers (''[[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'') in the Kapil Muni Temple.<ref name="Dasgupta">{{Cite journal|author1=Dasgupta, Samira |author2=Mondal, Krishna |author3=Basu, Krishna |name-list-style=amp |year=2006|title=Dissemination of Cultural Heritage and Impact of Pilgrim Tourism at Gangasagar Island|journal=Anthropologist|volume=8|issue=1|pages=11–15|url=http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/T-Anth/Anth-08-0-000-000-2006-Web/Anth-08-1-001-074-2006-Abst-PDF/Anth-08-1-011-015-2006-285-Dasgupta-S/Anth-08-1-011-015-2006-285-Dasgupta-S-Text.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101073057/http://www.krepublishers.com/02-Journals/T-Anth/Anth-08-0-000-000-2006-Web/Anth-08-1-001-074-2006-Abst-PDF/Anth-08-1-011-015-2006-285-Dasgupta-S/Anth-08-1-011-015-2006-285-Dasgupta-S-Text.pdf|archive-date=1 November 2006|url-status=live|doi=10.1080/09720073.2006.11890928 |s2cid=147750124 }}</ref>

The Gangasagar fair and pilgrimage is held annually on Sagar Island's southern tip, where the Ganges enters the Bay of Bengal.<ref>{{Cite web
| title = Makar Sankanti festival: Sun's Transition from Sagittarius to Capricorn: Time to visit Gangasagar | publisher = Press Information Bureau, Government of India|url = http://pibkolkata.gov.in/web_26_9_04/english_releases/feature10.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930111437/http://pibkolkata.gov.in/web_26_9_04/english_releases/feature10.htm|archive-date = 30 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> This confluence is also called Gangasagar or Gangasagara.<ref name="RoughG">{{Cite book|editor=Abram, David|chapter=Chapter J: Kolkata and West Bengal|year=2011|title=The Rough Guide to India|publisher=Penguin|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=A32I8DTLoFMC&pg=PA766 766]|isbn=978-1-4053-8583-1}}</ref> Near the confluence is the Kapil Muni Temple.<ref name="RoughG" /> The Gangasagar pilgrimage and fair is the second largest congregation of mankind after the triennial ritual bathing of [[Kumbha Mela]].<ref>{{Cite news|author=Dawar, Damini|date=14 January 2014|title=Ganga Sagar Mela in West Bengal : A dip for Moksha|newspaper=Merinews|url=http://www.merinews.com/mobile/article/Lifestyle/2014/01/14/ganga-sagar-mela-in-west-bengal--a-dip-for-moksha/15893967|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116000452/http://www.merinews.com/mobile/article/Lifestyle/2014/01/14/ganga-sagar-mela-in-west-bengal--a-dip-for-moksha/15893967|archive-date=16 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2007, about 300,000 pilgrims took the holy dip where the [[Hooghly River|Hooghly]] meets the [[Bay of Bengal]] on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. Almost five-hundred thousand pilgrims thronged Gangasagar in 2008.<ref name="pilgrim">{{Cite web
|url = http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=218846&catid=72&year=2008&month=1&day=16&Itemid=66| title = Dip, deaths mark Sagar mela finale| access-date = 16 January 2008 | publisher = The Statesman, 16 January 2008 }}</ref> For the rest of the year about 500,000 people come to the island.<ref name="Telegraph-2">{{Cite news| title = Bridge plea for Sagar tourism | date =15 January 2007 | last = Chattopdhyay | first = Debashis|newspaper = The Telegraph | location=Calcutta, India|url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070115/asp/bengal/story_7263417.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128210402/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070115/asp/bengal/story_7263417.asp |archive-date=2007|url-status=live}}</ref> According to reports on 14 January 2018, 18-2 million people had visited Gangasagar in 2018, against 1.5 million in 2017.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-west-bengal-on-makar-sankranti-2018-ganga-sagar-mela-witnesses-record-crowds-2575293 |title = West Bengal: On Makar Sankranti 2018, Ganga Sagar Mela witnesses record crowds |work = Home>>India | publisher= DNA, 14 January 2018 | access-date = 16 January 2018|date = 14 January 2018 }}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:Ganga_river_lanch_service_in_Sagar_deep.jpg|thumb|Ganga river launch service in Gangasagar]]
From [[Kolkata]], Diamond Harbour Road ([[National Highway 12 (India)|NH-12]]) runs south around 90 km to [[Harwood Point]], near [[Kakdwip]], where a ferry runs to Kachuberia at the north end of the Gangasagar.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Bindloss, Joseph|year=2009|title=Northeast India|location=Footscray, Victoria, Australia|publisher=Lonely Planet|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=D_bYWjJOe9cC&pg=PA141 141]|isbn=978-1-74179-319-2|display-authors=etal}}</ref> The [[Panchyat Samity]] maintains a parking area near the ferry landing. The ferry travels about 3.5 km across a [[distributary]] of the Ganges river (also known as [[Hooghly River]] or [[Muriganga river]] locally) to reach Kachuberia. Small boats also cross from Harwood Point to Kachuberia. Private cars and buses travel the roughly 32 km to the pilgrimage site at Gangasagar.<ref name="RoughG" /> From the pilgrimage parking area the Kapil Muni Temple is about 200 meters and the Gangasagar confluence is about 700 meters.

==Healthcare==
There is a [[Primary Health Centre (India)|primary health centre]] at Gangasagar, with 6 beds.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/other_files/PHC.pdf | title = Health & Family Welfare Department | work= Health Statistics – Primary Health Centres | publisher = Government of West Bengal |access-date = 11 November 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.gangasagartourism.co.in/ Ganga Sagar TOURISM]
{{Commons category|Gangasagar}}

{{South 24 Parganas}}
{{South 24 Parganas topics}}
{{Major temples in West Bengal}}

[[Category:Villages in South 24 Parganas district]]
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in South 24 Parganas district]]

{{South24Parganas-geo-stub}}

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Gangasagar