Rudraprayag: The Sawan (Shravan) month is commencing from July 25 and in Uttarakhand, Sankranti started from July 16 with the Kedarnath temple bearing a deserted look due to the impact of COVID-19. This is the second time when the world-famous Kedarnath temple is silent with no devotees allowed for pilgrimage in the wake of the Covid pandemic. With the ban on entry, devotees are not even allowed to perform Jalabhishek of Baba Kedar in the month of Sawan, forcing them to continue their never-ending wait to connect with the divine.
Recently Uttarakhand government had announced the cancellation of 'Chardham Yatra' in view of the coronavirus pandemic. According to Kedarnath temple's Teerth Purohits Acharya Sanjay Tiwari and Naveen Shukla, fewer devotees visited Lord Shiva temples across the state to offer prayers on the Sawan Sankranti month due to the impact of COVID-19.
Read:| Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand is set to start on July 11
As per the Hindu calendar, there will be four Mondays in the month of Sawan and Pradosh Vrat will be observed on August 6. while Nag Panchami will be celebrated on August 13. On observing the full moon, the month of Sawan is starting on 25 July and will end on 22 August. Notably, the silent protest of Teerth Purohits outside the Kedarnath temple, demanding that the Uttarakhand Chardham Devasthanam Management Board be disbanded, has entered its 35th day. The protest is led by Acharya Sanjay Tiwari.
The Teerth Purohits, who are also observing a fast, have raised slogans against the state government. The Kedarnath Teerth Purohit Samaj has said that if the board is not dissolved soon, the protest will intensify. Acharya Sanjay Tiwari said that the protest against the Uttarakhand Chardham Devasthanam Management Board has been intensified under a new framework.
Read:| Uttarakhand govt moves SC against HC order staying Chardham Yatra
"We will organise protest rallies in the markets of Kedar valley," he said. Kedarnath Teerth Purohit Samaj has accused the state government of neglecting the organisation of Chardhams including Kedarnath. "Restoration work is underway Kedarnath by the government after the pilgrimage site was hit by a disaster but the affected people have not been taken care of following which we will never accept the Devasthanam Board," Sanjay Tiwari said.
Meanwhile, devotees in Srinagar have started raising their voices to re-start the Chardham Yatra. On Saturday, the Hill Taxi Maxi Association and Hotel Association in Srinagar have demanded the government to open Chardham Yatra. Angry taxi drivers and hoteliers have staged a demonstration in the Gola Bazar area of Srinagar, accusing the government of not defending the small businessmen before the High Court following which they are suffering a lot. The protesters stated that they are under huge debts and their earnings have come to a standstill.
Read:| Kedarnath priests continue protest to disband Devasthanam Board
