Gangasagar Mela

Context: Recently, West Bengal Chief Minister urged Central government to declare Gangasagar Mela as a ‘national mela’ (national festival).

About Gangasagar Mela:

• Gangasagar is largest and oldest living tradition or festival in West Bengal.
• It is celebrated during Makar Sankranti for a week since as early as 400 BCE on the island of Gangasagar in West Bengal’s 24 South Parganas District.
• Gangasagar or Sagar Island is in the Ganges delta, lying on the continental shelf of Bay of Bengal about 100 kms south of Kolkata.
• It is mentioned in both Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• Pilgrimage started when First Kapil Muni’s temple was constructed by Queen Satyabhama in 430 AD.
• Devotees take a sacred dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal known as Gangasagar which is an island.
• It is India’s second largest pilgrimage gathering after the Kumbh Mela.

Source:  Hindustan Times

Previous Year Question

Q.1) Consider the following pairs:

Tradition                                                        State

1. Chapchar Kut festival                      Mizoram
2. Khongjom Parba ballad                  Manipur
3. Thang-Ta dance                                Sikkim

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct? (2018)

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2
3. 3 only
4. 2 and 3

Q.2) Consider the following pairs:

Traditions                         Communities

1. Chaliha Sahib Festival            Sindhis
2. Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra             Gonds
3. Wari-Warkari                          Santhals

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? (2017)

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. None of the above