PM Narendra Modi urges to keep Kumbh participation symbolic amid COVID crisis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to seers to hold a “symbolic celebration” of the remaining Kumbh Mela in the wake of surging Covid cases in the country set the ball rolling for consensus-building among akharas of Haridwar, with the Joona Akhara, one of the largest sects of seers, announcing the end of its participation in the Kumbh Mela on Saturday.

“I spoke on the phone today with Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Avadheshanand ji to inquire about the health of all saints... and I also requested that since two Shahi Snans are now over, the Kumbh should now be kept symbolic…this will strengthen the fight against corona,” the PM posted on Twitter.



Later in the day, Swami Avadheshanand Giri, the ‘mahamandaleshwar' of the Joona Akhara, responded to this appeal by announcing the formal conclusion of Kumbh. “The people of India and their survival is our first priority. In view of the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, we have duly immersed all the deities invoked on the occasion of Kumbh. This is the formal immersion-conclusion of Kumbh on behalf of Joona Akhara,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.

Resistance from 40,000 Bairagis
The big hurdle appeared to be the Bairagis, who are about 40,000 in number and have camped near Haridwar on government allotted land. The remaining two snans (ritual bathing) on April 21 and April 27 are ritually meant for them, said officials.

Earlier in the day Swami Avadheshanand, while acknowledging that he had spoken with both the PM and home minister Amit Shah, said, “The PM has made an appeal and most of the other akharas are now doing symbolic Kumbh. The Bairagis, however, must get their snan.”

Most of the 13 sanyasi akharas, have completed their bathing rituals in the first two snans. However, officials said, the Bairagis who are emphasising on the importance of the April 27 snan have taken umbrage. “I am not aware of the (PM) appeal but I am hopeful that the Kumbh will run its full course with all precautions and not be brought to an abrupt end,” Bairagi saint and Nirmohi Akhara chief Rajendra Das told ET.

On some akharas deciding to curtail their presence, Das said: “Those akharas can’t take a call on behalf of others. It’s only the Akhara Parishad that can take a final decision.”