No bathing at Kashi ghats, social distancing flouted in Prayagraj
VARANASI/PRAYAGRAJ :On one hand devotees did not take holy dip in any rivers, including the Ganga, in Varanasi on the occasion of Ganga Dussehra on Monday in compliance with the district administration’s instructions, hundreds of people flouted the social distancing norms as they bathed at Sangam and other ghats in Prayagraj on the other.
Unlike previous years, the iconic ghats of Varanasi wore a deserted look as Section 144 was imposed across the district to prohibit gathering of people. As the district administration made it clear on Sunday that bathing in any river will remain prohibited, RAF and police personnel were deployed at the ghats to ensure it. Varanasi district magistrate Kaushalraj Sharma had appealed to people to perform symbolic religious rituals at home. Only few people visited the ghats to offer ‘pranam’ to the Ganga which is believed to have descended on the earth on this day. Meanwhile, unmindful of the government’s guidelines about observing social distancing and wearing masks, hundreds of people took a holy dip at Sangam and other ghats in Prayagraj.
ADM (city), Prayagraj, AK Kanaujia said various teams were deployed at the bathing ghats to ensure that the devotees followed social distancing. He further said repeated appeals were also made in this regard but a large number of people did not pay heed. “On such occasion in future, we plan to issue challans for violation of lockdown norms,” the ADM (city) said.
Many seers, however, observed social distancing while bathing. Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP) chief Mahant Narendra Giri, Juna Akhada head Prem Giri Maharaj, secretary, Mahanirvani Akhada, Yamuna Giri Maharaj and other seers also offered prayers to keep the world safe from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Heavy security arrangements were made at Sangam on the occasion. Water police restricted the holy dip at many ghats due to soil erosion. Water police lifeguards and divers numbering around 15 were also present at Sangam, Arail and Dashashwamedh ghats.