After the appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to keep the Kumbh Mela symbolic, the chief of Juna Akhara, Swami Avdheshanand Giri on Saturday ended up running Kumbh Mela in Haridwar in the view of worsening outbreak of the pandemic. 

By seeing the prevailing coronavirus crisis hours ago Swami Vivekanand Giri tweets that “Faith is a big thing, but human lives are the most important, we must all realize that the strain of coronavirus was not as huge or fatal earlier as it is now. So my request to the emotional devotees that they should attend the Kumbh in limited numbers.’’ After some time he also tweets that they are ending up the Kumbh Mela from Juna Akhara. 

Ending up Kumbh from Juna Akhara did not mean that the Kumbh is called off

However, Juna Akhara move did not mean that the Kumbh is called off, there are still some Akharas like Nirmohi, Nirvani, Digambar who are still going ahead with the ‘Shahi snan’ while the Bairagi Akharas has welcomed PM’s appeal, that they will organize ‘shahi snan’ on April 27, with the proper social distancing. 

The majority of people who took part in the last two royal baths violated the Covid19 norms of wearing masks and social distancing. Mahant Narendra Giri and Swami Kapil Dev both were tested positive and admitted to hospitals and one of them Swami Kapil Dev died from the virus.

World’s largest religious gathering may contribute further to the rapid rise in coronavirus cases as already 1,701 people are tested positive there. Views of different Akharas people also differ on the conclusion of Kumbh Mela because of the Coronavirus. 

Kumbh Mela returnees should need to be quarantine. 

The Madhya Pradesh government said on Saturday that “those who are returning from the ongoing Kumbh Mela should isolate themselves”. The order issued by the Madhya Pradesh chief secretary mentioned “district officials should also provide a dedicated contact number where people can give information about pilgrims returning from the Kumbh”. 

Mumbai mayor tweets that “all those returning from Kumbh Mela should be mandatorily quarantined and tested at their expenses”.

People who are returning to Gujarat from Kumbh Mela will have to undergo an RT-PCR test before entering their cities and villages.