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.
“We have come to transform the upcoming Gangasagar Mela into an international event,” West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said at a rally in Kakdwip, the mainland gateway to Sagar Island.
Adhikari has also held an initial meeting with senior bureaucrats and top police officials to begin preparations for the event. “The previous government lied about the Muri Ganga bridge. Neither land was acquired nor any detailed project report was drawn.
In its manifesto for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP promised to develop the Gangasagar Mela into an international spiritual and cultural festival, with support from the BJP-led government at the Centre. We will inaugurate the bridge in 2029,” Adhikari said.
The government is expected to convene a high-level meeting at the state secretariat in the coming weeks, after the Durga Puja holiday period ends, a senior official said. Plans are afoot to make it a grand event this time,” the official said. The party also said it would pursue the event’s inclusion in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The state government is planning to deploy senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers at Kakdwip and on Sagar Island to coordinate preparations across departments, an official said.
“The chief minister held a meeting with senior bureaucrats on Saturday to prepare for the upcoming Gangasagar Mela.
Further details of the arrangements are expected to emerge after the next round of meetings.
The chief minister also set deadlines for departments involved in the preparations during Saturday’s meeting, the official said.
