Rajib ChakrabortySagar Island, Jan. 14 -- Around 85 lakhs pilgrims arrived at the Gangasagar Mela ground in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district till Wednesday afternoon to take the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal, a state minister said.
The pilgrims, who have converged from various states as also abroad, were also offering prayers at the iconic Kapil Muni Temple here, state minister for Power and housing Aroop Biswas told mediapersons.
About 150 km from Kolkata, this island is considered auspicious by the Hindus, who gather here at this time of the year, braving the icy cold conditions and chilly winds, for the holy dip and pray by offering coconuts at the Kapil Muni temple.
The minister said the auspic...