25,000 devotees, over 1,000 seers mark final shahi snan

Three days earlier than the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar involves an finish, round 1,350 seers from varied akharas and 25,000 devotees bathed in Brahmkund at Har Ki Pauri over the past shahi snan on Tuesday — practically 1 per cent of the whole attendance anticipated by the authorities for the shahi snan on April 27.
Hours later, the Haridwar district administration introduced a ‘corona curfew’ in Haridwar within the night. It might be efficient from April 28 to the morning of May 3.
After an enchantment by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and amid criticism over violation of Covid protocols on the Mela, the akharas had agreed to mark a symbolic Kumbh Mela to keep away from any new coronavirus infections.
IG Kumbh Mela, Sanjay Gunjyal, informed The Indian Express, “Following appeal from the Prime Minister and constant review by the Chief Minister, akharas cooperated in keeping the crowd low today. There were meetings with akharas daily over the last three days on crowd management. They followed social distancing too. Even Naga sadhus wore masks.”
Police personnel additionally participated in a shahi snan and officers stated it was “symbolic”. Before the shahi snan Tuesday, Gunjyal visited each akhara camp to make sure attendance was restricted.
According to information shared by the police, round 85 seers from Niranjani and Anand akhadas, 250 from Juna, Agni and Ahvaham; 80 from Mahanirvani and Atal; round 600 from Nirmohi, Nirvani and Diganmbar, round 230 from Bada Udaseen and Naya Udaseen and 100 from Nirmal akhara took half within the shahi snan Tuesday.

The footfall of devotees throughout the first shahi snan on March 11 was 32 lakh and the determine was nearly the identical on the second shahi snan on April 14. Attendance got here all the way down to 13 lakh on the third shahi snan on April 14.
Juna Akhara spokesperson Mahant Narayan Giri stated, “In view of appeals from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, we kept the shahi snan symbolic today. Around 5,000 seers and followers with 150 chariots had taken part in each of the past three shahi snans… Around 90 per cent seers and followers who had come from other states have already returned.”