Uttaranchal government has warned that those violating the Standard Operating Procedure of the Covid-19 during the forthcoming Haridwar Kumbh Mela will be dealt sternly. The state government is taking all possible steps to ensure that there is no possibility of a spike in Covid cases due to the cultural mega event.
The state government said that people found violating the pandemic SOP will be booked under relevant provisions and punished. Uttaranchal government is organising the Maha Kumbh Mela 2021 amid the pandemic which has been shortened to 30 days. The festival will be held from April 1 to April 30. It will be quite challenging for the state government to organise the festival as the event will attract pilgrims and tourist not only from India, but also across the globe.
Talking about the process to be followed by pilgrims and tourists wishing to visit the fair, an official said that all people have to do online registration in advance before travelling to attend the Kumbh Mela. Moreover, they will also have to upload copies of medica fitness certificate and RT-PCR Covied-19 negative test report at the time of registration. The test report must not be older than 72 hours, the official said.
The state governmnet portal will issue e-passes to those visitors who fulfill the registration formalities. Only those who obtain the e-passes will be allowed at the fair ground. Haridwar Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years. The last time the festival was held in 2010 in.which had invited at least 1.5 crores pilgrims and tourists from across the globe.
Ninara – Kumbh Mela
Only fewer shops of essential commodities such as medicine, food, dairy, puja paraphernalia, and blankets will be allowed to be opened on the day of the important bath dates to avoid unnecessary crowding and maintain social distance. Devotees and pilgrims will be given only 20 minutes for bathing while personnel doing duty during the mega event will be equipped with PPE kit and will follow all safety measures. Vulnerable populations like those above 65 years of age, children, and pregnant women are discouraged to attend the Maha Kumbh this time.
It may be noted here that millions of pilgrims and tourists congregate on the banks of holy Ganges during the Maha Kumbh. In the 2010 event at least 1.5 crores people took holy bath during the auspicious ‘Sahi Snan. Kumbh Mela is an important Hindu religious festival observed on the banks of Triveni sangam (Prayag), Ganges (Haridwar), Godavari (Nasik), and Sipra (Ujjain).