The historic 'Ganga Snan' a religious ritual of the Hindu community, ended amidst festivity on Monday at Kansat of Shibgonj upazila in Chapainawabganj.
Hindu devotees of all age groups thronged the venue to take a dip in the Pagla River , a symbolic gesture of washing away sins. The event also attracted devotees from other parts of the country.
A day long mela, puja and kirtan, organised by the Kansat Sanaton Samaj Kallyan Sangha (KSSKS), was held on the banks of the Pagla River and Kansat Rajbari Math. Around 300 stalls were set up at the fair premises. Traders from different parts of the country displayed their wares at the mela.
The Ganga Snan and mela were first held at this venue at least 500 years ago, said organiser Sukumar Saha.
Thousands of Hindu devotees of the northern part in country congregate here and collect water from Pagla River to be used for the rituals.
Nabo Kumar Das, president of KSSKS, told The Daily Star that the ritual is held during 'Ganga Doshhara tithi' of Jaishtha and Ashar in the Bangla calendar. Every year thousands of devotees come here in the hope that this ritual would ameliorate their lives.
