Wednesday, 28 April 2021 | PNS | Haridwar
About 25,000 bathe in entire Kumbh Mela area on the occasion
The last Shahi Snan of the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar on the occasion of Chaitra Poornima on Tuesday was a symbolic affair considering the surge in Covid-19 cases. Unlike in the past Kumbh Melas, only about 25,000 devotees and Sadhus from various Akhadas took holy dips in the Ganga in the entire Kumbh Mela area from Rishikesh to Haridwar on the occasion. In addition to the traditional Kumbh rituals, the devotees also prayed to the Ganga and their deities for deliverance from Covid.
The general devotees bathed in the Ganga early in the morning after which Har Ki Paidi was vacated for the Shahi Snan of the Akhadas. The Panchayati Akhada Sri Niranjani and Anand Akhada began the symbolic Shahi Snan. They were followed by the Juna Akhada, Sri Agni and Ahwahan Akhadas along with some members of the Kinnar Akhada. The Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP) national general secretary Mahant Hari Giri was also seen exhorting all to observe the Covid guidelines. Sadhus of the Sri Mahanirvani, Sri Shambhu Panchayati Atal Akhadas, the Akhil Bharatiya Sri Panch Nirmohi Ani Akhada, Akhil Bharatiya Sri Panch Digamber Ani, Sri Nirvani Ani, Sri Panchayati Bada Udasin, Sri Panchayati Naya Udasin and lastly the Sri Nirmal Panchayati Akhada took holy dips in the Ganga.
It will be recalled that considering the alarming surge in Covid-19 cases across the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier urged members of the religious fraternity to keep the remaining part of the Kumbh Mela symbolic. The Akhadas agreed to this and observed the last Shahi Snan of the Kumbh in Haridwar in a symbolic manner with only a fraction of their members participating in the rituals on the occasion.
