Explore the data, logistics, and spirituality behind the Gangasagar Mela.
Held annually at Sagar Island, West Bengal, where the Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal, this event manages millions of pilgrims in a fragile ecosystem.
Annual Footfall
~3-5 Million
Area Covered
300+ Acres
Security Personnel
14,000+
Key Date
Makar Sankranti
Attendance Trends (2018-2024)
Understanding the scale is crucial. The chart below visualizes the estimated pilgrim footfall.
Notice the dip during the pandemic years and the sharp resurgence, highlighting the event's resilience.
Interact: Hover over points to see specific yearly context.
Hover over the chart to see details about specific years.
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Spiritual Significance
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The Holy Dip (Snan)
Pilgrims hold the belief that taking a solitary plunge in the sacred waters of the Gangasagar on Makar Sankranti can absolve a lifetime of sins. This ritual is typically carried out at dawn, despite the freezing winter temperatures.
Timing: 3:00 AM - 12:00 PM🌊
Mass Transit Management
Reaching Sagar Island is a multi-modal challenge involving trains, buses, and ferries.
The visualization below breaks down the estimated percentage of pilgrims utilizing different transport modes to reach the final ferry points.
Trains (Local)
A main artery, the Sealdah South section, operates over 120 special trains during the Mela days.
~60%
Buses (Public/Private)
Connects Kolkata and rural Bengal to ferry docks such as Harwood Point.
~30%
Ferries (Vessel)
The last stretch sees over 100 vessels navigating the Muriganga river round the clock.
100% (Convergent)
Safety Deployment
Drones, CCTV, and watchtowers monitor crowd density in real-time.
1,000+ Cams
Infrastructure & Safety Deployment
Click the buttons below to filter the resource allocation view.
Green Mela Initiative
Sagar Island is an ecologically sensitive zone. Recent years have seen a massive push for a "Zero Waste" mela.
The government implements bans on single-use plastics and deploys armies of "Green Volunteers."
♻️Bio-toilets: Over 10,000 installed to prevent water contamination.
🧹Sweeping Teams: 3,000+ workers cleaning 24/7.
📱e-Snan: Promoting "Virtual Holy Dips" to reduce physical footfall.
Waste Management Efficiency
Analyzing the amount of waste produced compared to the amount effectively processed/recycled (in Metric Tonnes).
Did you know?
The Gangasagar Mela is frequently referred to as the 'Kumbh of the East'.