Kumbh Mela Begins With Over 7 Lakh Devotees Taking A Holy Dip In River Ganga
The coronavirus did not deter the spirit as pilgrims marked the beginning of the auspicious Kumbh Mela on Thursday, with 7 lakh devotees taking a holy dip in the bank of river Ganga in Haridwar, ANI reported.
Thursday marked the beginning of the auspicious Kumbh Mela, with 7 lakh devotees taking a holy dip in the river Ganga in Haridwar, ANI reported.
As many as 7,11,000 devotees performed rituals at Har ki Pauri during the time of aarti.
AFP
While the event was apparently a tad toned down due to COVID-19, as compared to past years, people still thronged the holy site to be part of the proceedings on the auspicious day.
As per ANI citing the state government, COVID-19 health protocols were strictly followed on the first day of the Kumbh and 974 people were fined for flouting the guidelines.
The Kumbh Mela normally attracts tens of thousands, but this time the authorities are discouraging large crowds because of the risks of COVID-19. District officials have warned people to come only after they have tested negative for coronavirus and advised them to wear face masks and follow the social distancing norms.
Also read: Even As COVID-19 Threat Looms, 2021 Kumbh Mela In Haridwar Will Be Held In Its 'Divine Form'
AFP
The government has said that the security has been beefed up and the soldiers of Uttarakhand's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Central Paramilitary Force (CPF) and five teams of the Bomb Disposal Squad, are deployed in Haridwar for the safety of devotees during the Kumbh Mela 2021.
In addition to the radio communication system, concerned authorities have installed over 1,000 CCTV cameras to keep a strict vigil on the entire fair.
Also read: Heroic NDRF Constable Who Saved Civilian From Drowning During Kumbh Mela Dies In Delhi Hospital
AFP
Recognised as a cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2017, the last Kumbh Mela in Allahabad in 2019, attracted around 55 million people over 48 days.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Kumbh Mela this year will be a truncated affair - and will be held for 48 days in Haridwar instead of three-and-a-half months. The Maha Kumbh is celebrated in a cycle of 12 years at four river-bank pilgrimage sites. The fair will conclude on April 27.
