Patna: There will be no ‘Kanwar Yatra’ and Shrawani Mela in the state of this year because of Covid’s pandemic.
These worshipers must offer prayers at home and only priests are allowed to perform rituals in temples.
Chairman of the Bihar Religious Council Akhilesh Kumar Jain said following the direction issued by the state government, religious congregations such as worshipers walking to temples, traditionally known as ‘Kanwar Yatra’, will not be permitted this time.
Previously, worshipers used to walk to temples to offer special prayers to Lord Shiva and participate in Shadani Mela.
Jain said worshipers would not be allowed to take holy water from Ganga in Bhagalpur and Sultanpur.
The important temples used to attract a large number of worshipers with ‘Kanwar’ in the state during the month of Shrawan are Garibnath Dham (Muzaffarpur), Kusheswar Stan (Darbhanga), Temple of Harianh Nath (Sonepur) and Bihta.
According to the Hindu tradition, Shrawan is the month of Shiva’s god and which is why worshipers hold special prayers in different temples.
Because speculation of the third wave of Covid pandemic gets land and the state government takes all steps to strengthen health facilities from rural areas to urban areas, unregulated meetings such as ‘Kanwar Yatra’ and Shrawani Mela can increase the risk of the spread of the virus.