Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took to Twitter to inform that he had a phone conversation with Avdheshanand Giri of Juna Akhada.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took to Twitter to inform that he had a phone conversation with Avdheshanand Giri of Juna Akhada and told him that the ongoing Kumbh Mela should be kept “symbolic” now as the ongoing Covid Crisis has worsened.
“Spoke to Acharya Mahamandleshwar Poojya Swami Avdheshanand Giri. Enquired about the health of all saints. All the saints are cooperating with the administration in every possible way. I thanked the saint community for this,” PM Modi tweeted.
“I requested that since two Shahi Snans have already taken place, the Kumbh should now be kept symbolic in the wake of Corona crisis. This will strengthen the fight against the crisis,” the Prime Minister added.
मैंने प्रार्थना की है कि दो शाही स्नान हो चुके हैं और अब कुंभ को कोरोना के संकट के चलते प्रतीकात्मक ही रखा जाए। इससे इस संकट से लड़ाई को एक ताकत मिलेगी। @AvdheshanandG
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 17, 2021
Earlier on Friday, with over 2100 cases reported in Haridwar in the last 5 days, and citing the “deteriorating situation in the state”, the Niranjani Akhada and Anand Akhada decided to opt-out from the congregation and end their pilgrimage on April 17.
Niranjani Akhada is among the influential and one of the 13 akhadas which participated in the Kumbh Mela this year. “Given the situation of the pandemic in Haridwar, we have taken the decision to conclude the Kumbh on April 17,” said Ravindra Puri Maharaj, secretary of the Niranjani Akhada. He also added that “most of the saints and their followers” in their camps at Haridwar are experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms. According to the Times of India, approximately 14 lakh people took the holy dip, with no signs of COVID protocols on display.
As for the shahi snan on April 27, Maharaj said that they will take steps in line with the decision of the Akhada Parishad (the top body comprising of all akhadas)
“Till now, 30 sadhus have tested positive for COVID-19. The cases are not in any specific akhada. There are cases in almost all the akhadas, including Niranjini, Juna, and others,” said Dr SK Jha, Haridwar Chief Medical Officer to NDTV.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
