JAIPUR: The state government on Friday issued fresh guidelines maintaining a ban on all religious processions and functions, including kanwar yatra in Rajasthan.
The new guidelines prohibit large gatherings at public and religious places for prayers on Eid al-Adha. Similarly, large congregations at public and religious places for Chaturmas, which is observed every year for four months by Jain devotees, will not be permitted as per new norms. All other religious events also remain strictly prohibited in Rajasthan as per the Covid protocol. The government, however, has allowed the opening up of public parks from 5am to 4pm for all.
But those who have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine can visit the park till 8pm.
The fresh guidelines will come into effect from Saturday morning. Several devotees were hoping for some relaxation for kanwar yatra this year. There are over 3,000 people who participate every year in the yatra in Jaipur alone.
Jaipur has over 12,000 temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. People every year come to Galta Kund to take the water and walk across faraway temples “As per my estimate, sometimes the number of yatris go beyond 3,000.
This does not include people who travel to Haridwar and other places. Kanwar yatra has one major rule-one it starts, a devotee can not stop anywhere and have to keep the water on the shoulder at all times,” said Bharat Sharma, who runs dharohar Bachao Samiti and participates in the yatra.
Advocate Akshaya Sharma, who participated in kanwar yatras said that due to the Covid-19, many devotees themselves do not wish to go on the yatra this time. “People themselves shied away from participating in the yatra because of the pandemic last year, and because many people have recovered from the illness, they are unlikely to go on yatra this year too,” he further said.
The new guidelines prohibit large gatherings at public and religious places for prayers on Eid al-Adha. Similarly, large congregations at public and religious places for Chaturmas, which is observed every year for four months by Jain devotees, will not be permitted as per new norms. All other religious events also remain strictly prohibited in Rajasthan as per the Covid protocol. The government, however, has allowed the opening up of public parks from 5am to 4pm for all.
But those who have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine can visit the park till 8pm.
The fresh guidelines will come into effect from Saturday morning. Several devotees were hoping for some relaxation for kanwar yatra this year. There are over 3,000 people who participate every year in the yatra in Jaipur alone.
Jaipur has over 12,000 temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. People every year come to Galta Kund to take the water and walk across faraway temples “As per my estimate, sometimes the number of yatris go beyond 3,000.
This does not include people who travel to Haridwar and other places. Kanwar yatra has one major rule-one it starts, a devotee can not stop anywhere and have to keep the water on the shoulder at all times,” said Bharat Sharma, who runs dharohar Bachao Samiti and participates in the yatra.
Advocate Akshaya Sharma, who participated in kanwar yatras said that due to the Covid-19, many devotees themselves do not wish to go on the yatra this time. “People themselves shied away from participating in the yatra because of the pandemic last year, and because many people have recovered from the illness, they are unlikely to go on yatra this year too,” he further said.
