Sections of political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday voiced concern about the Kumbh Mela’s potential to weaken the country’s fight against Covid-19 after lakhs of devotees and seers had congregated at the Haridwar Kumbh for days.
Modi, in a telephone conversation with Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Poojya Swamy Avdheshanand Giri Ji, requested that the Kumbh be kept “symbolic from now on as two Shahi Snans (holy bathing rituals) have already taken place,” the Press Information Bureau, the Centre’s public information office said.
“This will strengthen the fight against the pandemic,” the PIB quoted Modi as saying. The Acharya has replied respecting the Prime Minister’s request and has asked devotees not to come for bathing in large numbers and to follow Covid-19 appropriate precautions, the PIB said.
Three akharas have appealed for the Mahakumbh in Haridwar to be closed immediately because of the surge in Covid cases and said they would be leaving from Saturday, their stand dividing the monks at the congregation and inviting attacks.
The administration said it had no plans to prematurely wind up the Kumbh Mela, scheduled to run till April 30.
Mahant Ravindrapuri of the Niranjani Akhara, one of the country’s 13 main akharas (monasteries), said on Friday morning: “We have decided to withdraw from the Mahakumbh on April 17 and vacate the mela (congregation or fair) area to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.”