Arrangements in place in Haridwar for Kartik Poornima bath
HARIDWAR: Elaborate security and traffic arrangements have been put in place by Haridwar district administration for the
Kartik Poornima bath scheduled on November 19, officials said.
Kartik Poornima is a major festive bath in Hindu festive calendar. It is also the last festive bath of the year.
Entry of heavy vehicles into Haridwar has been banned from November 18 till November 19 midnight. Temporary parking lots have been identified to ensure main bus stand and parking places do not get congested.
“Elaborate security and traffic managements have been made for Kartik Poornima festival,” Haridwar senior superintendent of police (SSP) Yogendra Singh Rawat said on Wednesday.
“Additional number of state police personnel and three companies of the Provincial Armed
Constabulary (PAC) have been sought from the state police headquarters for the Kartik Poornima bath, which is expected to draw large crowds of pilgrims to the sacred city,” Rawat said.
A mela cell has been formed to monitor the bath, he said.
“As this is the Mahakumbh year and no restrictions on pilgrims and tourists have been relaxed with dipping of Covid-19 cases, Kartik Poornima bath is expected to have a good footfall of devotees,” said Ganga Sabha president Pradeep Jha
Traders are upbeat about turnout for the bath with a number of visitors already thronging Ganga ghats on weekends.
“2021 got affected due to Covid-19. Even during Mahakumbh, for which we waited for 11 years, Covid impact led to minimal pilgrim and tourist arrivals. Our trade and livelihood is pilgrim dependent so we hope and pray that lakhs turn up for the Kartik Poornima bath,” said Rajat Ohri, a shopkeeper at Moti Bazar, adjacent to Har-Ki-Pauri, believed to be the sanctum sanctorum of Brahmakund.