Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, on Tuesday, announced the cancellation of this year’s Kanwar Yatra in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reiterating his decision, he said that even though the event remains culturally significant, the government’s priority remains saving lives.

“Kanwar is part of the Sanatan culture but saving lives is paramount. Government’s focus is to ensure that COVID does not spread,” Dhami said in a meeting.

Even the Indian Medical Association’s Uttarakhand chapter has written to the Chief Minister requesting him to learn from the “previous failure” and not allow Kanwar Yatra in the interest of the state and the whole country.

People had to pay a heavy price for going off guard after the first wave, IMA Uttarakhand Secretary Amit Khanna said in a letter to Dhami.

The Haridwar Kumbh held in April had led to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The Kanwar yatra which begins with the onset of the month of Shravan around July 25 and goes on till the first week of August witnesses crores of Kanwariyas from neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi gathering in Haridwar to collect the holy waters of the Ganga.

In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that only a minimum number of people should participate in the annual Kanwar Yatra yatra. He further directed the strict implementation of the COVID-19 protocol.

The state government, which has allowed the yatra from July 25, said a negative RT-PCR test report can be made compulsory for pilgrims, if required.

In view of the COVID-19 situation, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed that Kanwar Sanghs should be requested for the participation of a minimum number of people in the yatra, the spokesman said.

He also said that necessary guidelines should be issued for travel by holding a dialogue with the states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttarakhand.

“Complete adherence to the COVID protocol should be ensured. There should not be any hesitation regarding the safe and successful operation of Kanwar yatra,” the UP CM had said.