Cold wave, Covid hit pilgrim footfall in Haridwar

HARIDWAR: The ongoing cold wave and soaring Covid cases hit footfall of pilgrims on Somvati Amavasya in Haridwar on Monday.

Auspicious timing of Somvati Amavasya commenced from 2.30 pm which also had an impact on pilgrims’ arrival from neighbouring states.

Foggy conditions remained prevalent throughout the day with temperature ranging between 12 degrees Celsius and 7 degrees Celsius.

Local priests associated with Ganga Sabha, which manages the affairs of Har-ki-Pauri, performed rituals at Ganga ghats. The pilgrims, who had come for the ritual dip in Ganga were seen flouting COVID guidelines, with hardly anyone wearing face masks or maintaining social distancing. At the sanctum sanctorum of Brahamkund, Har-kiPauri hundreds of devotees were seen performing sacred Ganga dip and chanting of hymns. Devotees also offered rituals to forefathers at Ganga banks and noted Narayani Shila considered auspicious on Somvati Amavasya.

Along with Badrinath Dhambased Brahmakapal and Gaya in Bihar, Haridwar-based Narayani Shila at Devpura is considered the sacred place to offer rituals for peace to the departed souls.

Senior SP Yogendra Singh Rawat said only those pilgrims and visitors were allowed at inter-state border check posts who had double vaccination certificate or had possession of 72 hour in prior RT-PCR negative report.

At Rishikesh too the impact of spike in Covid cases and cold weather conditions was seen art Triveni Ganga ghat where quite a smaller number of devotees were seen in comparison to previous years. The local administration is now preparing for the February 1 bath of Mauni Amavasya which is also attended by devotees in large numbers.

FOGGY CONDITIONS PREVAILED THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 12 AND 7 DEGREES CELSIUS.