Uttarakhand government cancels Kanwar Yatra for second year in row amid COVID-19
This is the second year in a row that the pilgrimage will stay cancelled. The state has postponed the Char Dham Yatra till further orders in compliance with the state High Court's orders.
FollowThe Uttarakhand government on Friday cancelled Kanwar Yatra as a precautionary measure amid the Covid-19 pandemic, said state government spokesperson Subodh Uniyal.
“Uttarakhand government has cancelled Kanwar Yatra, held in the month of 'sawan' from Haridwar, as a precautionary measure amid Covid-19 pandemic,” State government spokesperson Subodh Uniyal was quoted as saying by ANI.
This comes days after Uttarakhand postponed the Char Dham Yatra till further orders in compliance with the state High Court's orders.
During the yatra, Kanwariyas or Shiva devotees fetch the holy waters of Ganga from Haridwar to offer at the Shiva temples in their respective areas.
These pilgrims visit Haridwar, Gaumukh, and Gangotri in Uttarakhand and Sultanganj in Bihar to fetch the waters of Ganga. This water is then offered to Lord Shiva in temples.
The HC on Monday had stayed the state cabinet's decision permitting Char Dham yatra with a limited number of pilgrims and had also ordered live streaming of Char Dham shrines.
It also asked the government to file the affidavit again by July 7.
Despite the orders, the Uttarakhand government had issued a fresh set of Covid-19 guidelines for the pilgrimage and had said the first phase of the yatra would begin from 1 July, while the second phase would commence from July 11.
Moreover, the state government has moved the Supreme Court against Uttarakhand High Court which has banned the yatra.
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