PM Modi says ’Kumbh Mela should now only be symbolic to strengthen Covid-19 fight’

  • PM Narendra Modi spoke to top seer - Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha president Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj - over the phone and made an appeal about the Kumbh in Haridwar that attracts tens of thousands of devotees every year

Meghna Sen
Published17 Apr 2021, 09:21 AM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI Photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI Photo)

Amid a huge number of people testing positive from the Kumbh Mela area in Haridwar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday morning urged that the weeks-long religious festival "should now only be symbolic" amid an unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases.

PM Modi stressed that this will give a boost to India's fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister's appeal comes in the wake of nearly 2,000 devotees testing positive for Covid-19 at Kumbh Mela in Haridwar in around a week's time.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said that he spoke to top seer - Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha president Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj - over the phone and made an appeal about the annual gathering that attracts tens of thousands of devotees every year.

"Spoke to Acharya Swami Avdheshanand Giri ji on the phone today. Enquired about the health of all saints. All the saints are providing support to the administration for a smooth conduct of the affair and I thanked them for it," the PM tweeted in Hindi.

In another tweet, PM Modi said, "Now that two royal baths have taken place, I appeal to everyone to keep Kumbh Mela symbolic due to the coronavirus crisis. This will give strength to India's fight against the virus."

After PM Modi's appeal, Swami Avdheshanand urged people to not come to Kumbh for bathing in large numbers and follow rules.

"We respect Prime Minister's appeal. I request the people to not come for snan in large numbers, in the wake of COVID19 situation, and follow all rules," he wrote on Twitter.

Top seer at Kumbh Mela in Haridwar dies of Covid-19

A Hindu seer has died from Covid-19 and 80 other holy men have tested positive for the deadly virus after attending Kumbh where millions of pilgrims have been ignoring the norms despite a surge in cases.

Many seers have tested positive after the commencement of Kumbh Mela, including Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad president Mahant Narendra Giri, who is admitted at the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences in Rishikesh.

Mahamandaleshwar of Maha Nirwani Akhada from Madhya Pradesh Swami Kapil Dev, who had tested positive for Covid-19, died at a hospital four days ago.

Haridwar Kumbh Mela medical office has said that 68 seers have tested positive for Covid-19 between 5 to 14 April.

Over the past few days, as many as 2167 people were found positive for coronavirus in Haridwar -- the place where the month-long Kumbh is going on.

According to the Uttarakhand State Control Room, there were 254 Covid-19 positive cases on 10 April, 386 on 11 April, 408 on 12 April, 594 on 13 April and 525 on 14 April.

The ongoing Kumbh Mela has been shortened this year to just one month from 1 to 30 April due to the pandemic.

In normal circumstances, the event, which comes once in 12 years, is held for nearly four months from mid-January to April.

Meanwhile, India's Covid-19 caseload surged to 1.45 crore cases with 2,34,692 new cases - the sharpest-ever single-day spike. Around 1,341 deaths were reported in a day as the country saw the deadliest day of the pandemic this year.

Catch all the Business News , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.

MoreLess
First Published:17 Apr 2021, 09:21 AM IST
Business NewsNewsIndiaPM Modi says ’Kumbh Mela should now only be symbolic to strengthen Covid-19 fight’

Get Instant Loan up to ₹10 Lakh!

  • Employment Type

    Most Active Stocks

    Indian Oil Corporation share price

    138.90
    03:59 PM | 4 NOV 2024
    -6.1 (-4.21%)

    Tata Steel share price

    146.95
    03:56 PM | 4 NOV 2024
    -2.75 (-1.84%)

    Reliance Industries share price

    1,302.00
    03:59 PM | 4 NOV 2024
    -37.1 (-2.77%)

    Tata Motors share price

    824.10
    03:59 PM | 4 NOV 2024
    -19.5 (-2.31%)
    More Active Stocks

    Market Snapshot

    • Top Gainers
    • Top Losers
    • 52 Week High

    Poly Medicure share price

    2,876.70
    03:43 PM | 4 NOV 2024
    -286 (-9.04%)

    Vodafone Idea share price

    7.89
    03:59 PM | 4 NOV 2024
    -0.56 (-6.63%)

    Chennai Petroleum Corporation share price

    614.70
    03:45 PM | 4 NOV 2024
    -40.85 (-6.23%)

    Angel Broking share price

    2,886.35
    03:59 PM | 4 NOV 2024
    -184.55 (-6.01%)
    More from Top Losers

    Fine Organic Industries share price

    5,123.00
    03:29 PM | 4 NOV 2024
    280.9 (5.8%)

    Firstsource Solutions share price

    358.85
    03:50 PM | 4 NOV 2024
    18.55 (5.45%)

    Rainbow Childrens Medicare share price

    1,630.70
    03:59 PM | 4 NOV 2024
    81.1 (5.23%)

    Gillette India share price

    10,323.35
    03:29 PM | 4 NOV 2024
    361.55 (3.63%)
    More from Top Gainers

    Recommended For You

      More Recommendations

      Gold Prices

      • 24K
      • 22K
      Bangalore
      80,415.000.00
      Chennai
      80,421.000.00
      Delhi
      80,573.000.00
      Kolkata
      80,425.000.00

      Fuel Price

      • Petrol
      • Diesel
      Bangalore
      102.92/L0.00
      Chennai
      101.03/L0.00
      Kolkata
      104.95/L0.00
      New Delhi
      94.77/L0.00

      Popular in News

        HomeMarketsPremiumInstant LoanMint Shorts