Despite anxiety mounting about a potential third wave of Covid-19 infections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has decided to allow the Kanwar Yatra this year from July 25.
‘Kanwariyas’ who are devotees of Lord Shiva collect water from River Ganga at Haridwar to offer at Shiva temples in their areas as part of the yatra.
According to reports, CM Adityanath has directed officials to prepare guidelines for conducting the yatra while ensuring full compliance to Covid-19 protocols.
CM has also said UP officials should should speak to their counterparts in Bihar, as there is significant movement of devotees between two states, and ensure that there are no violations of Covid protocols.
The home department has been asked to formulate a detailed guideline for regulating the yatra this year.
Last year, the Uttar Pradesh government had suspended the Kanwar yatra in view of the pandemic.
The Uttarakhand government has already cancelled the Kanwar yatra and imposed Section 144 on the borders of Haridwar.