For the first time in recent history, people will not be allowed to bathe in the Ganga at Haridwar on the occasion of Somvati Amavasya on July 20.
Generally up to 50 lakh people from various Indian states visit Haridwar to bathe in the Ganga on the Somvati Amavasya during the summer but this will not be allowed this Monday considering the risk of Covid-19 contagion.
For this purpose, the district administration has ordered imposition of section 144 on Sunday and Monday.
Other rituals too will remain prohibited in the Ganga on these two days. Superintendent of police (City) Kamlesh Upadhyay said that anyone arriving from outside on the occasion will be booked and quarantined. The police of other states have also been informed so that they can prevent movement of people to Haridwar on the said days.Meanwhile, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat also appealed to people of Uttarakhand to abstain from bathing in the Ganga at Haridwar on Somvati Amavasya. He asked the people to remember goddess Ganga at home and bathe with a pious sentiment to mark the occasion.
He said that though it is natural for Hindus to wish to visit Haridwar and bathe in the Ganga on the occasion, this can not be allowed presently considering Covid-19.
Exhorting the public to help the authorities tackle the pandemic effectively, the CM said that once the situation returns to normal, all will be able to follow their faith by bathing in the Ganga at Haridwar.