Kolkata: Keeping apart her political variations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday prolonged a heat invitation to him to go to the Ganga Sagar Mela, an annual celebration throughout Makar Sankranti. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, she not solely emphasised the occasion’s uniqueness but in addition appealed for its designation as a ‘National Fair.’
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee writes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, interesting to him to declare Ganga Sagar Mela a National Fair. She additionally requests him to make a go to to Ganga Sagar. pic.twitter.com/hl3VktPYtb
— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2024
Unique Significance Of Ganga Sagar Mela
Mamata highlighted the Ganga Sagar Mela as one of many “largest spiritual human congregations” globally, second solely to Kumbh Mela. She described the geographical splendour of the occasion, happening on the confluence of the mighty Ganga River and the Bay of Bengal, unmatched on this planet. The Sagar Island, the place the Mela is held, sits adjoining to the Sundarbans space.
Historical And Religious Roots
The Chief Minister delved into the historic roots of the Mela, tracing it again to a time when the Indian Oceanic community related Eastern Indian commerce with historical Greco-Roman commerce. She underscored the spiritual significance, stating that the Ganga Sagar Mela has deep mythological and astrological connections, referenced in historical Indian epics just like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsham.
A Global Pilgrimage Destination
Mamata emphasised that Ganga Sagar Mela is the one such occasion organized on an island not related to the mainland. Despite this, it attracts pilgrims from the world over and varied Indian states, with nearly 1 crore pilgrims visiting final 12 months and expectations of surpassing that quantity this 12 months.
State Initiatives And Financial Challenges
The Chief Minister outlined the state authorities’s initiatives to make sure the sleek and secure motion of pilgrims, totally funded by the state exchequer. She talked about the substantial expenditures incurred by the state authorities to arrange an occasion of this magnitude, at the moment with none contribution from the central authorities.
Mamata disclosed that she had beforehand requested the central authorities to declare Ganga Sagar Mela as a ‘National Fair,’ equal to the acknowledged Kumbh Mela. However, a call on this matter continues to be pending. In 2021, she raised issues concerning the disparate monetary help from the Centre, citing its funding for Kumbh Mela however not for Ganga Sagar Mela.
Ganga Sagar Mela 2024
The Ganga Sagar Mela for the 12 months 2024 is scheduled from January 8-16, promising a non secular and cultural extravaganza. The Chief Minister’s invitation to Prime Minister Modi not solely highlights the cultural richness of the occasion but in addition seeks to raise its standing to a nationwide stage.
