India / God won't like it if lives are lost: U'khand CM on Kanwar Yatra amid COVID-19

Dehradun: Newly-sworn Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dham has hinted that the state government might now allow the Kanwar Yatra to happen this year too amid virus concerns and said that go wouldn't like it if people lose their lives to COVID-19.

"We are just a host state. Over three crore Kawariyas visit the state in 15 days. It's a matter of faith but people's lives are also at stake. Saving lives is our first priority. God would not like it if people lost their lives to COVID due to Kanwar Yatra," ANI quoted the Uttarakhand CM as saying.

Last week, the state government had decided to review its decision to stop all Kanwar yatra devotees from entering the state this year, prompting experts to caution about a steep surge in COVID infections if safety protocols are violated.

The government said that a final call will be taken only after talks with other states from where Kanwariyas come on how to conduct the yatra amid fears of the third wave.

This came after Uttar Pradesh had on Wednesday allowed the yatra from July 25. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanth also asked the state officials to coordinate with the Uttarakhand administration and resolve any lingering problems.

Meanwhile, the experts have cautioned against another superspreader event- Kawar Yatra, stating that the pilgrimage could be “five times more likely to be a superspreader than the Kumbh festival.”

The Kanwar yatra takes place during the Hindu month of Shrawan spread over July and August. Lakhs of Shiva devotees travel to places like Haridwar, Gaumukh and Garhmukhteshwar to take a dip in the river Ganga and fill pots with Ganga Jal which is then carried back to their homes or revered temples and poured on the Shivling.