Kumbh Mela 2021: U'khand Govt launches COVID awareness campaigns
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Dehradun, Jan 8: In the region where Kumbh Mela 2021 is to be organized, the Uttarakhand State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) launched a COVID 19 awareness in Haridwar, on Jan 8. Eight SRDF teams have been deployed in the 'Kumbh Kshetra' in order to carry out the COVID 19 awareness campaigns and educate more than 11,000 residents, devotees and other stakeholders on combating the COVID 19 situation. Currently the state has 3,309 active cases COVID 19 and around 1,555 have already lost their lives because of the infection.
The state govt has said, "The SRDF has been running public awareness campaigns since the cases of COVID 19 started reporting in the state, but it is priority to educate people about the ways to prevent the speed of COVID 19. To speed up the process, NCC, NSS and Disaster Management groups are also assisting us." The SDRF is utilizing various means, including banners and pamphlets to convey awareness messages to people. In the coming days, SDRF is also planning to connect with people through SMS and LED video kits.
The Kumbh Mela 2021 is to begin from Jan 14, on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, at Haridwar. The Kumbh Mela is held at one of the four holy pilgrimage destinations, Haridwar, Nashik, Allahabad and Ujjain, every 12 years by rotation. The dates for a pilgrimage to the Kumbh Mela are determined according to the Vikram Samvat calendar. The first Shahi Snan will take place on 11th March, and the second and third ones on 12 and 14th April respectively. The fourth Shahi Snan will be held on 27th April, and on the same day, the Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021 will come to an end.
Religious tourism is the backbone of the Uttarakhand economy. The lockdown imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic has given the hill state’s tourism sector a major jolt. The annual pilgrimage of Char Dham Yatra resumed late and with restrictions. The annual Kanwar Yatra also could not happen due to the pandemic. Although the Kumbh is celebrated once in 12 years and and the previous Kumbh in Hardiwar was held in 2010. The next one was to be held in 2022, but is happening a year earlier. Mahant Narendra Giri, head of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Prishad, has said that "After more than 100 years the Kumbh will be held earlier. It is happening because of specific auspicious dates.”