Amid COVID-19 restrictions, Kumbh Mela formally begins in Haridwar
What's the story
The Kumbh Mela formally began in Haridwar on Thursday with several restrictions imposed on devotees coming to attend the event amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in various states, including Uttarakhand.
Officials associated with organizing the event, including Mela Officer Deepak Rawat, Mela IG Sanjay Gunjyal, and Haridwar SSP Janmejay Khanduri, prayed for safe and unhindered Kumbh in temples along the banks of Ganga.
Details
Negative RT-PCR test report compulsory to attend
Checking on Uttarakhand's borders with Uttar Pradesh at Narsan in Roorkee and Kashipur in Udham Singh Nagar District has been intensified to ensure that only people with a negative RT-PCR test report proceed for the Kumbh Mela.
"Besides registering on our portal, it is compulsory for devotees to bring a negative RT-PCR test report with them," Mela Officer Rawat said.
RT-PCR report
Report must for those who have received one vaccine dose
A negative RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours before arrival has been made mandatory for devotees gathering for the Kumbh by the Uttarakhand High Court.
In an order on Wednesday, the High Court said that a negative RT-PCR certification will be compulsory even in the case of devotees who have received the first dose of the corona vaccine.
Information
Everyone has to follow COVID-19 protocol
Devotees who have taken the COVID-19 vaccination will have to show their certificates and follow the COVID-19 guidelines like wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and frequently undertaking hand sanitization in the Kumbh Kshetra.
COVID-19 cases
Testing to go up from 5K to 50K
The High Court has also asked the health authorities in Haridwar to ramp up testing from 5,000 per day to 50,000. Uttarakhand reported 293 positive COVID-19 cases on Wednesday with Dehradun and Haridwar Districts accounting for the majority of them.
Dehradun reported 171 cases followed by Haridwar which reported 70, according to the COVID-19 Control Room in Dehradun.
Devotees
Huge crowds expected on three Shahi Snan days
There will be three major bathing dates (shahi snan) on April 12, April 14, and April 27.
Besides the shahi snan dates when people descend in droves on the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar for a holy bath, a heavy turnout of devotees is also expected on the occasion of Chaitra Pratipada on April 13 and Ram Navami on April 21.
Information
Finance Ministry has sanctioned Rs. 325 crore for Kumbh Mela
The notified Kumbh Kshetra (Kumbh area) covers various places in Haridwar, Dehradun and Tehri districts. According to ANI, the Union Ministry of Finance has sanctioned a special assistance of Rs. 325 crore as special assistance to the Uttarakhand Government for Kumbh Mela 2021.
COVID-19 arrangements
12,000 police, 400 paramilitary personnel will maintain law and order
Total 12,000 police and 400 paramilitary force personnel will keep an eye on the Kumbh Kshetra spread over an area of 670 hectares from Haridwar to Devprayag to maintain law and order and ensure that the COVID-19 protocols are followed strictly.
Total 38 temporary hospitals with the deployment of 200 doctors and 1,500 paramedical staff have been operationalized for devotees in the Mela area.
Information
Duration of Kumbh curtailed to one month for first time
It is for the first time in the history of the grand religious congregation held on the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar that its duration has been curtailed to just one month due to the pandemic. Normally, Kumbh is held for nearly four months.