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PRAYAGRAJ: After the Supreme Court asked the Uttar Pradesh government not to allow even symbolic kanwar yatra in the state, the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) — the apex decision-making body of the country’s 13 Hindu monastic orders — has requested the devotees to consider the apex court’s advice and not to take out the yatra.
UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath had also asked the administration to hold talks with the Kanwar associations to discuss the matter so that a resolution could be found.
ABAP president, Mahant Narendra Giri said, “On behalf of the Akhara Parishad, I would like to appeal to the Shiva devotees not to take out the Kanwar yatra, given the possible third wave of Covid-19 pandemic. Rather, the devotees should make Parthiva Shivlinga (Shivalinga made from clay) in their houses and offer the water of river Ganga or for that matter even of the local pond of their village to Lord Shiva.”
He further said that although the CM wishes that the Kanwar yatra be held with all Covid-19 protocols and norms in place, it is also the moral responsibility of the devotees to see that their deeds should not, in any way, enhance the possibility of triggering the third wave of the pandemic.
“As such, it is advisable that the pujan (prayers) of Lord Shiva should be either done through making a Parthiv Shivlinga at their respective homes or if at all the devotees decide to visit the neighbouring Shiva temple, they must follow all the protocols and safety norms” said Giri.
He further said that the health and lives of the people are equally important as are the religious practices and traditions, thus the best option is that like the previous year, we should not take out the yatra this year too.
Agreeing to the ABAP president, chief patron of Juna Akhara, Mahant Hari Giri said, “Akhara Parishad has taken the right decision as during the Kanwar yatra, the religious sentiments are quite strong and devotees often forget to keep a safe distance between themselves and as such the crowd and groups of devotees can enhance the risk of spreading the virus and unnecessarily inviting the third wave.”
“Rather, praying in the house and pleading to Lord Shiva for keeping the nation safe from the pandemic is the need of the hour,” he added.
UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath had also asked the administration to hold talks with the Kanwar associations to discuss the matter so that a resolution could be found.
ABAP president, Mahant Narendra Giri said, “On behalf of the Akhara Parishad, I would like to appeal to the Shiva devotees not to take out the Kanwar yatra, given the possible third wave of Covid-19 pandemic. Rather, the devotees should make Parthiva Shivlinga (Shivalinga made from clay) in their houses and offer the water of river Ganga or for that matter even of the local pond of their village to Lord Shiva.”
He further said that although the CM wishes that the Kanwar yatra be held with all Covid-19 protocols and norms in place, it is also the moral responsibility of the devotees to see that their deeds should not, in any way, enhance the possibility of triggering the third wave of the pandemic.
“As such, it is advisable that the pujan (prayers) of Lord Shiva should be either done through making a Parthiv Shivlinga at their respective homes or if at all the devotees decide to visit the neighbouring Shiva temple, they must follow all the protocols and safety norms” said Giri.
He further said that the health and lives of the people are equally important as are the religious practices and traditions, thus the best option is that like the previous year, we should not take out the yatra this year too.
Agreeing to the ABAP president, chief patron of Juna Akhara, Mahant Hari Giri said, “Akhara Parishad has taken the right decision as during the Kanwar yatra, the religious sentiments are quite strong and devotees often forget to keep a safe distance between themselves and as such the crowd and groups of devotees can enhance the risk of spreading the virus and unnecessarily inviting the third wave.”
“Rather, praying in the house and pleading to Lord Shiva for keeping the nation safe from the pandemic is the need of the hour,” he added.
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