Haridwar (Uttarakhand): In view of the alarming situation arising due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Kumbh Mela, which is being held after 11 years, can be concluded much earlier, something which will happen after 83 years.
The duration of the Mela has already been reduced to one month from five months, which has also happened for the first time in the history of Kumbh Mela.
However, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat has said that the Kumbh festival will continue till April 30.
WILL THE KUMBH BE CONCLUDED BEFORE TIME?
Given the current state of coronavirus in Uttarakhand, it is being speculated that the state government may take a big decision about the continuation of Kumbh Mela at any time. The COVID-19 infection is spreading fast in Uttarakhand and the possibility of the situation getting worse due to the Kumbh Mela cannot be ruled out.
In the last five days, as many as 8,765 people have been infected by COVID-19 in the state whereas 50 people have lost their lives.
STATE OF COVID-19 IN THE LAST 5 DAYS IN UTTARAKHAND
- 11 April: Positive cases - 1333, Deaths - 8
- 12 April: Positive cases - 1334, Deaths - 7
- 13 April: Positive cases - 1925, Deaths - 13
- 14 April: Positive cases - 1953, Deaths - 13
- 15 April: Positive cases - 2220, Deaths - 9
CORONA SPREADING SO FAST AMONG SAINTS
In Kumbh city of Haridwar, 2,526 cases have been reported in the last five days.
It would not be inappropriate to mention that after the customary royal baths of saints, there has been a tremendous increase in the cases.
As many as 17 saints of the Akhara, including Mahant Ravindra Puri, secretary of Niranjani Akhara, have been found positive.
At the same time, Mahant Narendra Giri, who is also the president of the Akhara Parishad, associated with the same area, has been unwell since April 11. Many other saints associated with different Akharas are also suffering from the infection.
So far, more than 60 saints have been tested COVID-19 positive.
DATA OF SAINTS INFECTED WITH COVID-19
- 16 April: As many as 17 saints, including Ravindra Puri, Secretary of Niranjani Akhara, got infected
- 15 April: Nine saints were found to be positive. Four of them belong to Juna Akhara, two are from Ahwan Akhara and three from Niranjani Akhara.
- 14 April: A total of 31,308 people were examined for possible COVID infection. Four saints of Juna Akhara, one each from Agni, Mahanirvani, Digambar and Ani Akharas, were found positive along with one saint of Anand Akhara.
- 13 April: In all, 29,825 tests were conducted out of which five saints of Juna Akhara and three saints of Niranjani Akhara were found positive.
- 12 April: Another 26,694 tests were conducted in which six saints were found to be positive.
- 11 April: As many as 23,394 tests were conducted in which two saints of Juna Akhara were and one of Niranjani Akhara were found positive.
- 3 April: Seven saints of Krishna Dham were tested positive.
'SAINT SOCIETY' IN TRAUMA AFTER MAHAMANDLESHWAR’S DEATH
Needless to say that the 'saint society' of Haridwar is grappling with fear and trauma after the death of Mahamandaleshwar Kapil Dev Das.
Immediately after this incident, Panchayati Akhara’s Shri Niranjani and his colleagues at Anand Akhara announced the closing of the Kumbh Mela on April 17. The makeshifts arrangements for monks and saInts of Niranjani Akhara will be removed on April 17.
Mahamandaleshwar Kailashanand Giri of Niranjan Akhara said, “The cases of COVID are increasing continuously. The guidelines of the Central and state governments are very important. In view of this, Mahamandaleshwar and Mahants of Niranjani and Anand Akhara have decided that on April 17, they will remove their camps. There will be no big event in their Akharas after April 17. Those saints who have come from outside will go back and the saints of Haridwar will go back to their Akharas. The situation is no longer favourable due to the rising cases."
Meanwhile, Mahant Ravindrapuri, Secretary of Niranjani Akhara, said, "The decision to conclude the Kumbh has been taken by Niranjani Akhara as the menace of coronavirus is showing no respite in Haridwar. The cases are increasing continuously. As a result, we have decided that only 15 to 20 monks will take the customary holy bath on April 27 from this Akhara. All saints and devotees have been requested to evacuate Haridwar now and go back to their respective residences."
DIFFERENCES AMONG AKHARAS OVER COMPLETION OF KUMBH
On the other hand, the Bairagi saints are not happy with the announcement of the termination of Kumbh on behalf of Niranjani Akhara. The Nirvani and Digambar Akharas have demanded an apology from the saints of Niranjani and Anand Akharas.
They say that only the Chief Minister of the State or the Mela administration has the right to take the decision about the fair.
The Bara Udasin Akhara wants consensus among all Akharas. Mahant Maheshwar Das of the Akhara said such the decision to close the Mela on April 17 is not valid as it has been taken without consulting anyone.
Jagatguru Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati has also opposed the announcement about the conclusion of the Kumbh. In a conversation with ETV Bharat, Avimukteshwaranand, a disciple of Swaroopanand Saraswati, said: “The Kumbh Mela does not belong to any individual but to everyone. No one has the right to impose their decision on everyone. The Kumbh has a deadline that must be met. The Kumbh Mela begins and ends on the basis of the planetary constellation. Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati Maharaj will remain in Haridwar till the conclusion of the Kumbh Mela. He has cancelled only his major programmes in view of the rising COVID cases and the rest of other programmes will continue in his Yagya camp.”
At the same time, while being sarcastic at Shri Niranjani and Anand Akharas, Avimukteshwaranand said: "The coronavirus is across the country. If saints and sages leave Haridwar, will they not spread the virus elsewhere? It is better to follow the guidelines released by the government by staying at one place to avoid the spread of the infection.”
At the same time, Juna Akhara has not yet taken any decision regarding the discontinuation of Kumbh.
The saints of Juna Akhara are waiting for their COVID report post which they will hold a meeting to decide whether to discontinue or continue with the Kumbh Mela.
DATA FROM PAST 5 DAYS IN HARIDWAR
- 11 April: Positive cases - 386, Death – 0
- 12 April: Positive cases - 408, Deaths - 2
- 13 April: Positive cases: 594, Death – 1
- 14 April: Positive cases: 525, Deaths – 2
- 15 April: Positive cases: 613, Death - 1
APPEAL WAS MADE AT THE BEGINNING ITSELF
Health experts had appealed to cancel the event at the beginning itself, but the government had assured that every COVID-19 guideline would be followed. The truth came to light only when Kumbh Mela IG Sanjay Gunjyal on the royal bath said: “We are constantly urging the people to follow the rules in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. But it is quite crowded and it is impossible to challan the people who are not following the norms. If the police force the people to follow the rules of social distancing at the ghats, a stampede like situation may arise here.”
According to scientists and experts, the risk of coronavirus spread is higher through water and moisture than on a dry surface because the virus can remain active on wet surfaces for a longer period of time.
“The Kumbh has increased the risk of COVID-19 manifolds. The duration of the virus to remain active increases in water. When it comes to plain surfaces, it depends on temperature and humidity. The coronavirus' thermal death point is around 58 to 60 degrees Celsius but when it gets colder, then its survival time increases. The Ganges water is cold and many people who are coming here can also get infected," Gunyal said.
"In addition, they spit and cough while bathing in the Ganges which increased the risk of spreading the virus. The virus can survive in water for about 28 days,” he added.
Ramesh Chandra Dubey, Head of Department of Microbiology, Gurukul Kangri University, said: "The second wave which is being witnessed right now is due to the Holi festival because the people did not take proper precautions while celebrating Holi and the impact of Maha Kumbh will only be seen after about 10 to 15 days.
COPS ON DUTY ALSO UNDER THREAT
After every big bath at the Maha Kumbh, about 10,000 policemen were tested out of which 33 policemen were found infected with COVID-19.
According to DGP Ashok Kumar, now the Kumbh Mela has remained a mere formality. Not all Akharas are included in the royal bath scheduled for April 27. In view of this, 50 per cent of the force put on duty has been recalled.
Gunjyal said: “At the state level, there is a clear notification for the Kumbh Mela till April 30. We have the preparations till April 30. How the Kumbh Mela should be organized has been decided by the central government through a different set of standard operating procedures. We are acting accordingly. If anyone takes any decision with regard to the Mela, it will be in their personal capacity. We are on Mela duty till April 30.”
KUMBH IS HAPPENING AFTER 11 YEARS
This was the first time that Kumbh was held after 11 and not 12 years. Although this Kumbh was supposed to be organised in 2022, due to planetary movements, the auspicious coincidence was found to be in April this year to organize the holy gathering.
The special thing is that such a coincidence has happened for the first time in about a century.
WHY IS THERE KUMBH MELA?
The Kumbh Mela is associated with the churning of the sea. It is said that when the gods and demons churned the ocean, poison came out of it along with nectar.
Lord Shiva drank poison for the betterment of the universe, but the struggle between the gods and the demons started for the nectar. Dhanvantari, who took the nectar urn from the sea, ran away with it in the sky so that the demons would not snatch the nectar from her.
During this time, drops of nectar fell on Earth in Prayag, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain.
The Kumbh is organized at these four places where the drops of nectar fell. This conflict between the gods and the demons lasted for 12 days. It is believed that one day of the gods is equal to one year. Hence the Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years.
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