Niranjani Akhada , one of the 13 religious clans whose seers are participating in the Kumbh Mela, on Thursday said that they have decided t...
Niranjani Akhada, one of the 13 religious clans whose seers are participating in the Kumbh Mela, on Thursday said that they have decided to opt out of the event from Saturday due to the deteriorating pandemic situation, The New Indian Express reported.
“The main Shahi Snan held on the occasion of Mesh Sankranti on April 14 is over,” said Ravindra Puri, the secretary of the Niranjani Akhada, according to PTI. “Many in our akhada are showing Covid-19 symptoms. So, for us the Kumbh Mela is over.”
However, he added that a final decision on concluding the event will only be taken by the Akhada Parishad, the apex body of the akhadas.
Akhada Parishad President Narendra Giri himself has been infected with the virus and is being treated in Rishikesh. The head seer of the Maha Nirvani Akhada from Madhya Pradesh, Kapil Dev, died due to coronavirus on April 13.
The decision came a day after Uttarakhand state government officials ruled out the possibility of curtailing the Kumbh Mela, even as coronavirus cases continued to rise in Haridwar. The Mela is witnessing the footfall of lakhs of pilgrims every day amid a massive second wave of coronavirus in the country. The violation of Covid-19 protocols has attracted ire from across the world. However, the state authorities, including Chief...
