(This story was first published in The Times Of India on April 18, 2021)
Ayodhya: Amidst a lethal Covid run in Uttar Pradesh coupled with fervent appeals by senior Ayodhya seers, the district administration on Saturday decided to call off the April 21 ‘
Ram Navami Mela’, which witnesses a mammoth gathering of pilgrims on the last day of
Navratra at Ramjanmabhoomi and Saryu banks. Ayodhya’s borders will be sealed and nobody, including seers from
Haridwar kumbh will be allowed entry.
The fear of a pandemic spread was compounded by the surge in Covid cases at the Haridwar kumbh, where hundreds of seers were scheduled to come to Ayodhya to offer prayers at Ramjanmabhoomi on the last day of Navratra. The district administration directed devotees to celebrate Ram Navami at home and curtailed pilgrim presence at temples.
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