India
oi-Deepika S
New Delhi, Apr 17: The ongoing Kumbh in Haridwar has been called off hours after PM’s request to keep religious event “symbolic” amid Covid crisis.
“Given the rising number of coronavirus cases emerging from Haridwar, the Kumbh Mela has been called off,” Swami Avadheshanand Giri, the ‘mahamandaleshwar’ of the Joona Akhara announcedan early end to the month-long mega festival.
Responding to an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to keep the participation in Kumbh symbolic, Giri said, “Faith is a big thing, but human lives are far more important.” “We must all realise that the strain of coronavirus was not as aggressive or fatal earlier as it is at present. So my appeal to the emotional devotees is that they should attend the Kumbh fair in limited numbers,” he told reporters in Haridwar.
Kumbh, which has seen people from different parts of the country…