Negative COVID-19 report compulsory for pilgrims attending the Kumbh Mela: Uttarakhand HC

Amid rising coronavirus cases in the country, the Uttarakhand High Court has made the RT-PCR test mandatory for devotees planning to attend the Kumbh Mela. The duration of Kumbh Mela in Haridwar has been curtailed to just one month for the first time in its history due to the pandemic.

This comes after Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat announced that no COVID-19 negative report will be needed from April 1 for pilgrims planning to visit Haridwar to take a holy dip in the Ganga River during the Kumbh Mela.

A negative RT-PCR test report, not older than 72 hours before arrival, has been made mandatory for devotees by the Uttarakhand High Court. Devotees who have taken the COVID-19 vaccination will have to upload their certificate in an official portal and follow the guidelines.

The bench said in its order that alarm bells are ringing in some parts of the country that the pandemic is again raising its head. Some southern and northern states, like Rajasthan, have started imposing partial lockdown, it said. "This is a clear indication that we are again entering the phase where the country will face the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, the state government is expected to be vigilant and to ensure that the Mahakumbh mela does not turn into the breeding ground for the spread of Covid-19 pandemic," reads the order.

According to a notification, the congregation on the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar in Uttarakhand will take place from April 1 to 30, with three 'shahi snan' (major bathing) dates on April 12, 14 and 27.

Thousands of devotes take a dip in the holy river during the mela with their number increasing manifold on the days of 'shahi snan'. Authorities also expect heavy turnouts on the occasions of Chaitra Pratipada on April 13 and Ram Navami on April 21.

Held once in 12 years, the congregation usually lasts around three-and-a-half months. Its last edition was held in Haridwar from January 14 to April 28 in 2010.

Source: thehindu.com, indianexpress.com

Written by Siddhant Sharma