Sagar Island

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Sagar Island | type = city | latd =21.8 | longd =88.1
state_name = West Bengal
district = South 24 Parganas
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population_as_of = 2001
population_total = | population_density =
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Sagar Island (also known as Gangasagar) lies on the continental shelf of Bay of Bengal about 150 km (80 nautical miles) south of Kolkata. It belongs to the Republic of India and is governed by the State government of West Bengal. The island is large — with an area of around 300 km². It has 43 villages and a population of over 160,000.cite web
url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070912/asp/bengal/story_8306906.asp | title = Sagar bridge on study table | accessdate = 2007-09-12 | last = | first = | work =
publisher = "The Telegraph", 12 September 2007]

The island is home to the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger. It is also rich in mangrove swamps, waterways and small rivers.This island is a famous Hindu pilgrim place.Every year on the day of Makar Sankranti (mid of January),millions of Hindus gathered to take a holy dip in the confluence of Ganga and offered puja in Kampil Muni Temple.

Kolkata Port Trust has a pilot station and a light house.

West Bengal government is planning to build a deep water port in Sagar Island.

Pilgrimage centre

Gangasagar pilgrimage and fair is the second largest congregation of mankind after the holy Kumbha Mela. The latter is observed once in four years at alternate locations in north, central and central-west parts of the country, Gangasagar fair and pilgrimage is held annually on the Sagar Island’s southern tip in the Ganges delta atop the Bay of Bengal. That makes Gangasagar all the more distinctive. [cite web
url = http://pibkolkata.gov.in/web_26_9_04/english_releases/feature10.htm | title = Makar Sankanti festival| accessdate = 2007-09-03 | last = | first = | work = Sun’s Transition from Sagittarius to Capricorn: Time to visit Gangasagar | publisher = Press Information Bureau, Government of India ]

In 2007, about 300,000 pilgrims took the holy dip where the Hooghly meets the Bay of Bengal on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. The figure was lower by around 200,000 because of Kumbh Mela. For the rest of the year about 50,000 people come to the island. [cite web
url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070115/asp/bengal/story_7263417.asp | title = Bridge plea for Sagar tourism | accessdate = 2007-09-12 | last = Chattopdhyay | first = Debashis| work = | publisher = "The Telegraph", 15 January 2007] Almost five lakh pilgrims thronged Sagar Island in 2008. [cite web
url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2008-01-16&usrsess=1&clid=22&id=212874 | title = Dip, deaths mark Sagar mela finale| accessdate = 2008-01-16 | last = | first = | work = | publisher = "The Statesman", 16 January 2008 ]

Proposed bridge

Government of West Bengal is planning to connect Sagar Island with the mainland with a 3.3 km bridge costing around Rs. 6,000 million. Delhi-based Consulting Engineering Services have been appointed to carry out a feasibility study for it. The study is expected to be complete by the end of 2007.

Politics

Sagar Island is part of Mathurapur (Lok Sabha constituency). [cite web
url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S25/WB_Dist_PC_AC.pdf
title = Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies
accessdate = 2008-10-02
work = West Bengal
publisher = Election Commission of India ]

References

External links

* [http://album.doorersathi.com/thumbnails.php?album=3 Pictures of Ganga Sagar]
* [http://album.doorersathi.com/thumbnails.php?album=19 Pictures of Ganga Sagar Mela 2007]
* [http://album.doorersathi.com/thumbnails.php?album=27 Pictures of Ganga Sagar Mela 2008]

ee also