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India Religion

The Indian Coast Guard patrols the Bay of Bengal as Hindu pilgrims take a holy dip in the waters of Gangasagar Island, around 160 km south of Kolkata, India, on January 13, 2025. Sadhus and Hindu pilgrims from all over the country come for the annual Hindu holy festival Gangasagar Mela, with more than four hundred thousand Hindu pilgrims gathering at Gangasagar to take a 'holy dip' in the ocean at the confluence of the River Ganges and the Bay of Bengal on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, a holy day of the Hindu calendar considered to be of great religious significance in Hindu mythology.

Photo ID	#11941764
Date Taken	13 January 2025
Location	N/A
Photographer	Debajyoti Chakraborty/NurPhoto
Category	Religion and Belief
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Debajyoti Chakraborty/NurPhoto

Indian Coast Guard Bay of Bengal Hindu pilgrims holy dip Gangasagar Island Kolkata January 13 2025 Sadhus Gangasagar Mela annual festival four hundred thousand confluence River Ganges Makar Sankranti Hindu calendar religious significance Hindu mythology Debajyoti Chakraborty NurPhoto ocean holy festival Gangasagar pilgrimage Hinduism South Kolkata holy day India January festival religious gathering sacred waters spiritual event cultural heritage maritime patrol.