The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Sunday prohibited the annual Kanwar Yatra in the city to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“No celebrations, processions, gatherings, etc. shall be allowed during forthcoming Kanwar Yatra-2021 starting from July 25 in NCT of Delhi,” stated an order issued by the DDMA.
The DDMA order came a day after the Yatra was cancelled in Uttar Pradesh. The yatra usually goes on till the first week of August and sees thousands of Shiva devotees, called ‘kanwariyas’, travelling mostly on foot from neighbouring States, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi, to collect water from the Ganges in Haridwar in Uttarakhand.
Earlier this week, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that governments should take every step to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Delhi BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor has said the DDMA decision of not allowing Kanwar Yatra has been taken in public health interest and is above any political discussion.