To Gangasagar they all go
once off the train one makes
there way towards the jetty located 2 km approx. from the train station, you
get to realize what you are coming to as you meet your co-travellers from all
walks of life ( mostly the poorer people , farmers and people with faith, and
less of stress and irritation)
Waiting to board the Boat
as one stands in the que, the
wait could be anywhere from 3 hours to 6 hours before one can make it to the boat,
and that kind of makes one aware why it is said , Gangasagar only one in ones
lifetime, finally one boards the boat which carries approx 100 people on a trip and is not overcrowded, and comfortable
Pilgrims on the boat
Boat one travels in
02. Launch (a small boat) to chemagudi Jetty by
ferry the ride is an hour long, and one sails on the Indian Ocean, it is choppy
waters and the tide plays a role thus small boats are used, bigger vessels tend
to get stuck depending on tides.
A small ride by bus or
trecker or taxi, takes one to Ganga Sagar mela ground, where ones senses are attacked
by
All sorts of visuals
The Sadhus generous with there blessings
The trinket sellers, with there wares
The sweet meat , offering to Gods and humans
the conch shells
Kapil Muni Ashram
Kapil Muni Ashram,
The deity was set up in 1437,
the structure is a stone block considered to be representational of Kapil Muni
As part of the Gangasagar mela,
which is, second only to the khumb mela and happens every year on 14 Th or 15th
January
Had devotees bathing at the holy
hour and worshipping the sun God
Praying to Sun God
Drying of clothes
Anything that seems to be happening
at Gangasagar, seems to be beautiful and with character, one does indeed get
the vibes of spirituality and lack of commercialization is a welcome feel at
this event
Tents at The banks of River Ganga
The accommodation of tents
provided by the government free of cost was amazing and it was all just so well
managed it was a pleasure from all angle, Cant say I found anything lacking
right down to plentiful toilets too for r the 30 lack Pilgrims (official figure)
Toilets for all
It was amazing to see all the
folks lines up and in a orderly fashion using the toilets, there was no open
defecation, something that one hears about, but I saw just one person attending
to natures call in the open, out of all the folks there, amazing indeed,
The Sankranti day had all the
actions,
The amazing sights of
pilgrims taking a bath and sadhus blessing and playing there instruments, a
sight for all
The sun rises on D day
Gau daan
The act of giving the cow to one’s Guru, pundit or deserving Brahmin, is done with the aim of acquiring victory over one’s senses, thereby enabling one to successfully overcome the challenges of the world. Symbolically represented, the devotee who performs such an action can expect to be freed from the cravings of his material world, from his sensual attractions and afflictions and worldly tastes since the one to whom he has made the gift has himself been freed from them. Chanakya Maharaj, writing in Chanakya Niti, states,‘Trishna Vaitarni Nadi’- Lust is the river in hell.’
( source-swahainternational.org)
The process continues on
#gangasagar #namkhana, #ganga
Personally I was in the River
Ganges for 5 Hours too, guess all my sins have been washed off too, if not, I
am presuming I will be lucky enough to visit Ganga sagar again next year, for
more Photo opportunity
| 
