Kanwar Yatra 2021: Centre further stated that State governments must ensure that distribution of ‘Ganga Jal’ among devotees and rituals by such devotees in the nearby Shiv Temples take place while mandatorily
Kanwar Yatra 2021: The Union government filed an affidavit to the Supreme Court on Friday in which it said state governments should not allow the Kanwariya movement for bringing in the “Ganga Jal” from Haridwar because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, given religious sentiments, state governments must develop a system to make “Ganga Jal” available via tankers at designated locations, he added.
The Union government informed the Supreme Court that water tankers must be made available at identified/designated places so that the faithful nearby can collect these “Ganga Jal” and do “Abhishek” in their Shiv temples. closer.
The Center further asked state governments to ensure the distribution of “Ganga Jal” among worshipers and the rituals performed by these worshipers in nearby Shiv temples while ensuring mandatory social distancing, wearing of masks, and adherence to all the steps required during the COVID-19 crisis.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard suo motu of the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to allow “Kanwar Yatra” amid COVID-19 and called on the Center and the state governments of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to give their answers on the question.
The case was brought before the bench of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman.
At Friday’s hearing, the highest court asked the government of Uttar Pradesh to reconsider its decision to allow Kanwar Yatra.
The Supreme Court says that it is first of all that “this concerns us all and is at the heart of the fundamental right to life. The health of the citizens of India and the right to life are paramount, all feelings other than being religious are subordinated to this basic fundamental right. “
The SC bench asked the Uttar Pradesh government to inform the court of its decision on Monday, otherwise, it will issue an order.
On July 9, the Uttaranchal branch of the IMA wrote to the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, asking him not to move forward with Kanwar Yatra this year. The state government later decided to cancel the yatra due to the pandemic.
The Kanwar Yatra, in which Shiva’s devotees from the northern states travel on foot or by other means to collect water from the Ganga River in Haridwar and offer it to Shiva temples in their region, is to begin from July 25.
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