India, Oct. 24 -- With Durga Puja celebrations over, the BJP government in West Bengal has turned its attention to preparations for the 2027 Gangasagar Mela, the first edition of the annual pilgrimage since the party came to power in the state in May 2026. The government has set its sights on giving the event international recognition, in line with the BJP's promise ahead of the Assembly elections.

Held every January on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, the Gangasagar Mela draws millions of Hindu pilgrims to Sagar Island in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district. Devotees take a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal. The gathering is considered the second-largest congregation of Hindu pilgrims in India after the ...