Over 35 lakhs take dip in Ganga on shahi snan amid rising coronavirus cases

Amid rising coronavirus cases nationwide, a sea of saffron-clad seers and ash-smeared Nagas converged at Har ki Pairi in Haridwar for a holy dip in the Ganga during the second shahi snan of the Kumbh Mela on Monday. Masks were not worn by a large proportion and social distancing appeared impossible at an event in which, according to Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat, about 35 lakh people participated.

Haridwar (Uttarakhand): A total of 35 lakh devotees took a holy dip on the occasion of the second 'Shahi Snan' at the Har Ki Pauri on Monday during the ongoing Kumbh Mela amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "A total of 35 lakh devotees have taken 'snan' in and around the Kumbh Mela area," Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat informed.

The first Shahi Snan was held on March 11 on the occasion of Mahashivratri, while the second is being held on Monday and on Wednesday. The third Shahi Snan will be taken by 13 akhadas.

Led by their `mahamandaleshwaras', the sadhus from different akhadas took out shobha yatras through the main thoroughfare of the pilgrimage city to gather at Brahma Kund, Hari ki Pairi for the shahi snan - or the royal bath -- on Somvati Amavasya.

Marching barefoot to their destination, the seers took a dip in the river as they were showered with flower petals from helicopters arranged by the Uttarakhand government.

Masks were not worn by a large proportion and social distancing appeared impossible at an event in which, according to Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat, about 35 lakh people participated.

As the mammoth exercise was on, Mela Inspector General Sanjay Gunjyal said 100 per cent compliance with Covid-19 norms was not possible with such a large crowd of seers converging on the ghats.

But efforts were on to ensure that everyone adhered to them, he added.

Twenty-six people tested positive in the 9,678 random coronavirus tests conducted in the 'mela kshetra' on Monday. According to the routine tally authorities give out each evening, 408 fresh cases were detected during the past 24 hours across Haridwar district.

While Har ki Pairi, considered the holiest of the ghats was reserved for the akhadas from 7 am onwards, common people took the dip at the other ghats of the Ganga, revered by millions as a goddess.

Seers from Niranjani Akhada led by their mahamandaleshwar Acharya Kailashanand Giri were the first at this ghat. Sadhus from Ananda Akhada also went to the river with them.

They were followed by the Joona Akhada seers.

Former King of Nepal Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah, on his maiden visit to Haridwar, was among the devotees who took a bath in the river.

More than 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel kept an eye over the mela area spread over 600 hectares.

At the end of the shahi snan, Chief Minister Rawat said the event was held on a grand scale, keeping its religiosity and fervour intact despite the odds posed by the pandemic.

Mela IG Gunjyal said the snan was conducted in an uninterrupted manner with no untoward incident being reported from anywhere in the mela kshetra extending from Haridwar to Devprayag.

"It was a huge exercise as security personnel deployed on the ghats had to keep the batches of seers and devotees thronging the ghats apart to prevent chaos, the officer said.

He said they had to ensure that each batch left the ghat in a safe manner, and in time to make room for the next group without disrupting the schedule.

Uttarakhand reports biggest covid spike on 'Shahi Snan' day

Uttarakhand on Monday reported a big spike of 1,334 COVID-19 cases which took the state's cumulative caseload to 11,01,46, according to a bulletin.

Seven COVID-19 patients died taking the toll to 1,767 in the state, the bulletin issued by the COVID-control room said.

Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Pauri and Tehri districts accounted for the maximum new cases, it said.

Dehradun district reported 554 cases, Haridwar 408, Nainital 114, Udham Singh Nagar 89, Pauri 70 and Tehri 56, it said.

Rudraprayag district reported nine cases, Almora, Chamoli, Champawat and Uttarkashi seven cases each and Pithoragarh and Bageshwar three case each, it said.

(With inputs from agencies)