Gangasagar, Janakpur

Gangasagar (Maithili: गंगासागर) is a pond in Janakpur, Nepal, considered sacred among Hindu adherents in the region.[1] During the festival of Chhath, it serves as a prime location for Chhath Ghat in the city.[2][3] The pond is beautifully decorated during the festival.[4] Ganga Maha-Aarti is also organised at the bank of the pond.

View of the Gangasagar pond in Janakpur
Night view at the Gangasagar pond.

Description

View of the water in the Gangasagar Pokhair

In the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent, there are many ponds associated with Hinduism. The Nepali city of Janakpur is known as the city of ponds; legend says that the city holds 72 ancient ponds having historical and legendary significance. Gangasagar pond is one of them and is a major sacred pond in the city.[5] It is located at the south of the Shiva Chowk and east from the other sacred pond Dhanushasagar in the city.[6] The sacred ponds of Dhanushasagar and Gangasagar are adjacent to each near the east of the historical Ram Mandir in the city.[7]

View captured during the Chhath Puja.

History

Gangasagar is recorded by the saint Sannyasi Shurakishordas in the 17th century after his arrival in the region.[6] In May 1884, a Sanskrit school and its hostel was established in the premises of the pond, through Gutti land endowment process in the city.[8]

Around the 1950s, a broken image of Sita was found during the renovation of the ghats of the pond.[9]

Legendary stories

According to legend, King Mithi, the son of King Nimi of Videha, was born from the Manthan of the dead body of the King Nimi at Gangasagar. After his birth, the city of Videha Kingdom was named as Mithila.[10] In the Vishnu Purana, some stories of the King Janaka in Mithila are connected to Gangasagar.[6]

The religious text Janakpur Mahima in the region gives the description of the origin of the sacred pond.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Encroachments Removed from Historic Ganga Sagar Pond Area in Janakpurdham". english.ratopati.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2026-05-22.
  2. ↑ "Janakpur gears up for Chhath celebrations". GorakhaPatra. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
  3. ↑ "Tales of 2 cities". Nepali Times. 2024-07-27. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
  4. ↑ "Chhath festival begins today with 'Nahai Khai' ritual - OnlineKhabar English News". 2024-11-05. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
  5. ↑ Board, Nepal Tourism. "Ponds of Janakpur | Janakpur | Nepal Tourism Board". ntb.gov.np. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
  6. 1 2 3 "Ganga Sagar – Saarang". saarang.com.np. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
  7. ↑ The Rough Guide: Nepal. Rough Guides. 2009.
  8. ↑ Regmi, Mahesh Chandra (1968). Land Tenure and Taxation in Nepal: Religious and charitable land endowments: Guthi tenure. Institute of International Studies, University of California.
  9. ↑ Nepal To-day. 1965.
  10. ↑ Jha, Makhan (1971). The Sacred Complex in Janakpur: Indological, Sociological, Anthropological, and Philosophical Study of Hindu Civilization. United Publishers.
  11. ↑ Amātya, Sāphalya (2006). Water & Culture. Jalsrot Vikas Sanstha, Nepal. ISBN 978-99946-803-2-0.
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