Gangasagar Fair: From buses to bells, all set for spiritual gathering of 40 lakh devotees

The upcoming Gangasagar Fair, scheduled to run from January 8 to 17, is poised to host an estimated 40 lakh attendees in what is considered one of the largest religious gatherings in West Bengal. The highlight of the fair is the holy bath, set to take place from the morning of January 15 to the morning of January 16, attracting devotees seeking spiritual cleansing.

To ensure broader participation, the entire event will be live-streamed. In a significant move, a 5 lakh insurance coverage has been arranged for both devotees and media personnel, enhancing the safety net for participants.The fair will boast an extensive security infrastructure, including 1150 CCTV cameras, 30 bells, and 50 fire engines, with the Coast Guard deployed for added safety. Notably, to manage the vast number of attendees, no cooking will be allowed on-site.

The logistics plan includes the deployment of 2250 government buses, 250 non-government buses, an additional 200 buses from Kuchberia to Sagar, 10 tourist buses, 32 vessels, 100 launches, and 21 jetties. Special camps in Sealdah and Howrah, along with 66 special trains from January 13 to 17, will facilitate transportation. Several safety measures such as life jacket facilities, Sagar Bandhu assistance in buses, and a daily gap of 3-4 hours for maintenance are also in place.

Daily dredging, helicopter facilities, 6500 volunteers, 10 thousand toilets, and a camp accommodating 332 organizations add to the extensive preparations, along with six special features of WiFi internet, 10 thousand deployed police personnel, language miking in eight languages, 7 lakh water sachets, tap facilities at various places, and a QR code system for the first time to raise awareness.

In Kuchberia, notable figures including Firhad Hakim, Ghiyasuddin Mollah, Dilip Mandal, and Sujit Bose have been entrusted with responsibilities crucial to the successful organization of the fair. Simultaneously, prominent personalities from Kolkata, such as Shashi Panja, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Pradeep Majumdar, and Bratya Basu, will also play a pivotal role in monitoring the proceedings and ensuring adherence to safety protocols.