Amid rising cases of COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh coupled with fervent appeals by senior Ayodhya seers, the district administration on Saturday decided to call off the April 21 ‘Ram Navami Mela’, which witnesses a mammoth gathering of pilgrims on the last day of Navratri at Ram Janmabhoomi and Saryu banks.
Ayodhya’s borders will be sealed and nobody, including seers from Haridwar Kumbh, will be allowed entry.
The fear of a pandemic spread was compounded by the surge in Covid cases at the Haridwar Kumbh, where hundreds of seers were scheduled to come to Ayodhya to offer prayers at Ram Janmabhoomi on the last day of Navratri.
The district administration directed devotees to celebrate Ram Navami at home and curtailed pilgrim presence at temples.
Talking to a publication, district magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha said, “Our priority is to break the corona chain. We have taken all precautionary measures and banned all gatherings in Ayodhya.”
The administration has ensured low-key Navratri celebrations in the temple town. Ram Ki Paidi on the Saryu banks which would be crammed with pilgrims at least 10 days before Ram Navami, wears a deserted look. Bathing in the Saryu has been banned and entry points to the river barricaded.
Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of Ram Janmabhoomi temple, said, “Nobody will be coming here to pay obeisance on Ram Navami. There will be only one priest, one duty policemen and Ram Lalla Virajman.”
This is the second year Ram Navami celebrations have been scrapped due to the pandemic.
Surjitt Sahani
