The Uttarakhand government has decided to cancel the Kanwar Yatra this year, keeping in mind the COVID-19 pandemic, news agency ANI reported on Tuesday, 13 July.
Announcing the decision Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, as per ANI, said that a coronavirus variant had been found in the city of Gadarpur and they did not want to make Haridwar a COVID centre.
"We discussed with higher officials and with officials from neighbouring States and decided that we will not hold Kanwar Yatra at this time. A variant has been found in Gadarpur, so we don't want to make Haridwar the centre of COVID."Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
Earlier on Sunday, the recently instated chief minister, had been quoted by The Indian Express, as saying:
"I thought that it is a matter of reverence and faith. A matter of reverence and faith is associated with God and even God would not like anyone to die.”
Previously, while Uttar Pradesh had reportedly decided to permit the yatra, Uttarakhand was in discussion with the neighbouring states on the matter.
The religious pilgrimage undertaken by the devotees of Lord Shiva was set to commence from 25 July.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during a virtual meeting last week, had instructed officials to ensure proper adherence to COVID-19 safety protocol during the yatra.
"Complete adherence to the COVID protocol should be ensured. There should not be any hesitation regarding the safe and successful operation of Kanwar Yatras," he had reportedly stated.
Last year too, the Kanwar had been cancelled due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.
Notably, Uttarakhand had recorded an 1,800 percent increase in COVID-19 cases between 31 March and 24 April, when the Haridwar Kumbh Mela was held.
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