Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the campaign for vaccination as “Tika Utsav” to combat spiraling coronavirus as the state stands second after the US with most daily coronavirus infection but on the other hand, India is witnessing the world’s largest mass religious gathering, Kumbh Mela.
India reported 13,692,833 active coronavirus cases in last 24 hours while the Modi government has turned a blind eye to hundreds gathered on the River Ganges for the Shahi Snaan holy dip.
The festival that celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati has begun in Haridwar, an ancient Indian city, that has reportedly witnessed over 3 million people taking bath in the river amid the resurgence of the pathogen.
Read Also
SC in India Shuts Down Due to Spiraling Coronavirus Crisis
The authorities organizing the mela announced to emphasize strict adherence to covid-19 protocols.
“Owing to Covid-19 pandemic, strict implementation of Covid-19 norms is being ensured for the Kumbh. RT-PCR negative report is mandatory for all outside people entering the Kumbh Mela zone”, maintained officer-in-charge Deepak Rawat while talking to Hindustan Times.
However, thousands of pilgrims flouted the SOPs and converged for a holy dip in the River Ganges.
A day ahead of the Shahi Snan – considered to be an auspicious day to take holy dip in the Ganges – more than one lakh devotees were seen on the banks of the river, in clear violation of the COVID-19 rules#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/zirTHvvkWy
— NDTV (@ndtv) April 11, 2021
Many of the devotees were not wearing masks and social distancing wasn’t a matter of priority for them, as witnessed from the photos of the festival.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat said there should be no “rok-tok (impediments)” and the mela should be “open for all”, reported The Wire.
The open violation of SOPs to combat coronavirus, at an hour when India is battling with the disease and taken over Brazil in total number of active cases, was lambasted by a number of prominent personalities.
Actor, comedian, and choreographer Jaaved Jaaferi mocked the claims by the government of placing all equipped cameras to grab the violators.
“At Kumbh, AI-equipped cameras to zoom in on those without masks”… and then the drones go and lift them up and take them to the police station 🥴 https://t.co/yJpTnRKxNd
— Jaaved Jaaferi (@jaavedjaaferi) April 12, 2021
On the other hand, Journalist Shekhar Gupta criticized the state for allowing poll rallies and Kumbh Mela.
With 1.2 million active cases, and daily number reaching 2 lakhs, it’s bizarre to have poll rallies & a full Kumbh Mela. This will take the virus deeper into villages & small towns. This is the calamity we dodged with a crippling lockdown in 1st wave. Now we’re inviting it back.
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) April 12, 2021
Journalist Rana Ayyub also shared a post in comparison with the Tableeghi Jamat congregation and Kumbh Mela.
At that time, Indian religious extremists criticized Tableeghi Jamat for holding a mass gathering and labeled them as the cause for the spike in infection rate then.
Indian media last year post the Tableegi Jamat congregation #majorityprivilege https://t.co/pbwDUG3NdZ pic.twitter.com/ME1L0ueUNJ
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) April 12, 2021