Makar Sankranti bath banned over Covid-19

HARIDWAR: Ending speculation over holding of Makar Sankranti ritual bath that attracts lakhs of pilgrims, the Haridwar district administration on Tuesday prohibited the festive bath taking into account recent surge in Covid-19 cases across the country.

Haridwar district magistrate Vinay Shankar Pandey issued an order prohibiting entry of pilgrims from other states to Haridwar for Makar Sankranti bath that falls on January 14. Local devotees will also not be allowed to take dip at Ganga in Har-KiPauri on Makar Sankranti.

“Taking into account safety of pilgrims as well as local people, recent surge in Covid-19 cases in Uttarakhand and the country, the administration has decided to not to allow Makar Sankranti bath this year. In no condition devotees will be allowed at Ganga ghats and pilgrims from other states will be stopped at border check post,” said Pandey.

Citing fear of mass spread of Covid, the district magistrate said if anyone violates the order, then they will be strictly dealt under provisions of the Epidemic Act and the Disaster Management Act.

Deputy inspector general of police Yogendra Singh Rawat said as Makar Sankranti bath has been prohibited, people who are planning or are scheduled to arrive for Makar Sankranti festive in Haridwar were urged to cancel their plan.

“If anyone still arrives for Makar Sankranti, then it will cause inconvenience for them only and will be dealt strictly,” said Rawat, who is also Haridwar police chief.

Akhada Parishad president Mahant Ravindrapuri said: “It’s a global pandemic. The saint community has been standing with government,adminsitration and society in this testing time.We urge all to abide by the district magistrate guidelines for Makar Sankranti.”

Ganga Sabha that manages the affairs of the sanctum sanctorum of Brahamkund, Har-KiPauri, welcomed the decision of district administration. Ganga Sabha present Pradeep Jha said this step has been taken in view of safety and health aspects of everyone so devotees and people should comply with the order.

The state on Tuesday reported 2,127 fresh Covid cases including 991 in Dehradun, 259 in Haridwar and 451 in Nainital districts. The state also reported death of one positive person. The number of active cases in the state has reached 6,603.