Even as Uttarakhand Reels From Sharp Spike in COVID Cases, Char Dham Yatra To Go Ahead
Last week, the Uttarakhand high court had observed that the pilgrimage cannot be allowed to turn into another Kumbh Mela.
The Badrinath temple is one of the four pilgrimage sites of the Char Dham yatra. Photo: Atarax42/Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Rights28/Apr/2021
New Delhi: Despite the 1800% increase in Uttarkhand’s active COVID-19 cases in the period coinciding with the Kumbh Mela, the state government has given its green signal to hold the annual Char Dham yatra from May 14.
The state government has agreed to allow the pilgrimage to four shrines â Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath â despite criticism that the Kumbh Mela had allowed the virus to spread in the state. On March 31, the state only had 1,863 active cases. By April 27, this number shot up to 43,032.
HC pulls up Uttarakhand govt over Kumbh Mela amid Covid pandemic, seeks status report
HC pulls up Uttarakhand govt over Kumbh Mela amid Covid pandemic, seeks status report
A bench of the Uttarakhand HC pulled up CM Tirath Singh Rawat s government over its management of the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar amid a surge in Covid-19 cases.
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UPDATED: April 29, 2021 17:52 IST
Devotees gather to offer prayers at Har ki Pauri Ghat in Haridwar during Kumbh Mela on April 14, 2021 (Photo Credits: PTI)
HIGHLIGHTS
HC advised state government to increase the number of cremation grounds
Bench also suggested different mode for registration for vaccinations in Uttarakhand
COVID-19 Surge: Uttarakhand Suspends Char Dham Yatra
The portals of the four Himalayan temples â Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath â will open as scheduled, but only for priests.
Kedarnath was built between the 9th and 11th century. Photo: Rohit Joshi
Religion29/Apr/2021
New Delhi: The Char Dham yatra in Uttarakhand which was scheduled to begin next month has been postponed in view of the massive surge in COVID-19 cases in the state.
Announcing the suspension in Dehradun on Thursday, Uttarakhand chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat said conducting the yatra amid the raging pandemic is not possible.
However, the portals of the four Himalayan temples â Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath â will open as scheduled, he said. They will open only for priests to perform regular prayers and not for devotees, he said.
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Focus now on Char Dham Yatra, says Uttarakhand govt
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Synopsis
The state government has prepared a draft standard operating procedures (SOP) for registration of pilgrims, temple visit and Covid protocols. It has not made public the SOP as it is waiting to assess the Covid situation over the next few days.
ET Bureau
With the Haridwar Kumbh Mela coming to an end on Friday, the focus of the Uttarakhand government is on finalising the procedures to be followed for opening of the Char Dham Yatra.
The Char Dham or four abodes – Badrinath, Kedarnath,
Gangotri and Yamunotri – are located in the state’s Garhwal region.