Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021 To Be Held From First April For Only 30 Days Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: Uttarakhand Govt

The Uttarakhand government has limited the duration of Kumbh Mela in Haridwar this year to 30 days amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Chief Secretary Om Prakash said today, reports India TV.

The decision has been taken based on the fear of the city becoming a hot spot of the virus. The government will issue the notice by the end of March stating that this time Kumbh will be held from April 1 to April 30.

Reportedly, the Haridwar district administration has demanded 70,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the personnel posted on duty. The Kumbh Mela administration has also put cameras at the Ganga Ghats to monitor the crowd.

In the preparation of the Mela, graffiti depicting Hindu mythology and Uttarakhand culture has been installed across walls, bridges, Government buildings, and other spaces available in Haridwar.

The Maha Kumbh Mela pilgrimage happens once every 12 years. Kumbh in Sanskrit means ‘pot’, Kumbh Mela is the fair of the pot of nectar.

It is believed that while Sri Vishnu’s Vahana, Garuda, was carrying the pot filled with Amrut, its drops fell in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh; Haridwar, Uttarakhand; Nashik, Maharashtra; and Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.

These are the four prime places where Kumbh celebrations happen today on a rotational basis - on the banks of the Godavari river in Nashik, the Shipra river in Ujjain, the Ganges in Haridwar, and the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, Saraswati rivers in Prayag.

The dates of the Kumbh festival are decided as per Jyotish. The Kumbh Mela in Haridwar this year, first time in 80 years, is being held after 11 years — not the usual 12 — because of specific auspicious dates.

While the Mela would have started from

Due to the pandemic concerns, now it will last only for a month. The important dates for the ‘snan’ in the month fall on —

• 12 April 2021: Somwati Amavasya (second Shahi Snan)
• 14 April 2021: Baisakhi (third Shahi Snan)
• 27 April 2021: Chaitra Purnima (fourth Shahi Snan)

The administration has made elaborate preparations for the Mela amidst the pandemic.

Reportedly, all the 107 bathing ghats will be divided into colour-coded zones: red, green and yellow, according to vulnerability. Additionally, the GIS mapping of the entire area has been done and the crowd capacity of each ghat has also been assessed.

If there is a crowd at any particular site above the permissible limit, the control room will be alerted, and the information will be relayed to security teams.

Pilgrims keen on taking a holy dip on any of the Shahi Snan dates will have to make an online booking in advance, and get an e-pass for entry. Additionally, pilgrims may only be allowed to spend a few minutes in the water in designated areas.

New ghats, bridges, parkings, four-lane highways have been set up ahead of Kumbh Mela. NSG, ATS, QRT and women commandos will also be deployed.

The Haridwar District Magistrate C Ravishankar said that pilgrims will need passes to attend Kumbh.