DELHI DISASTER MGMT AUTHORITY CANCELS KANWAR YATRA DUE TO COVID CONCERNS

NEW DELHI: Delhi on Sunday cancelled the kanwar yatra, days after Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh called off the religious pilgrimage due to Covid-19 concerns.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in an order prohibited any gatherings, processions or celebrations related to the pilgrimage.

“In spite of being banned /suspended by Uttarakhand government, there is an apprehension of gatherings/ congregations/ processions during Kanwar Yatra 2021. Therefore, in view of persisting Covid-19 situation, it is decided that Kanwar Yatra 2021 should not be permitted in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Delhi..,” said the DDMA order, which HT has seen.

The order also cited an existing DDMA direction which bans all religious, cultural, sports, political, academic and other similar gatherings.

This is the second year the yatra has been cancelled due to the pandemic. Last year too, the kanwar sanghs publicly announced they will not arrange camps. Months after the Mahakumbh drew 9.1 million devotees and seeded clusters of infections, concerns have grown over the kanwar yatra.

The DDMA order came a day after the Uttar Pradesh government, citing a decision by groups representing pilgrims, said that the kanwar yatra will not take place this year. On Friday, the Uttar Pradesh government told the Supreme Court that it is looking forward to allow a symbolic yatra this year.