NEW DELHI: There will be no kanwar yatra in the capital this year as well, with Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Sunday issuing directions that no celebration, gathering or procession will be allowed during the annual pilgrimage due to Covid-19.
Earlier this week, the Uttarakhand government had cancelled the pilgrimage, which sees thousands of devotees collect water from the Ganges in Haridwar and bring it back to their villages by mostly walking the distance on foot. Following Uttarakhand, the Uttar Pradesh government also cancelled the kanwar yatra on Saturday.
The DDMA order states that the kanwar yatra period will start from July 25 and despite being banned and suspended by the Uttarakhand government, there is an “apprehension of gatherings/congregations/processions... Therefore, in view of the persisting Covid-19 situation, it is decided that the kanwar yatra should not be permitted in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the territory of NCT of Delhi”.
Exercising the powers conferred under Disaster Management Act 2005, chief secretary Vijay Dev issued the order in his capacity as the chairperson of DDMA state executive committee.
All district magistrates of Delhi and their counterpart district deputy commissioners of police and other authorities concerned have been directed to ensure strict compliance and adequately inform and sensitise the field functionaries to properly implement the instructions.
The order states that a previous order on July 10 already directs that all social, religious, cultural, festival, sports, entertainment-related gatherings and congregations are prohibited and visitors are not allowed to religious places in the capital. The order states that any person found violating the instructions will be proceeded against as per the provisions of Disaster Management Act, Section 188 of IPC and other applicable laws.
The pilgrimage, which begins in the later half of July and goes on till the first week of August, was cancelled last year, too, due to the Covid outbreak.
The UP government cancelled this year’s yatra after the Supreme Court had said movement of devotees could not be allowed when the third wave was looming over the country.
