The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday decided to cancel the annual Kanwar Yatra scheduled this year in view of the raging the coronavirus (Covid-19) disease and a possible third wave of the pandemic. Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had said the Kanwar Yatra is not a one-state affair and his government will take the decision after holding talks with other states, including Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. While speaking about the cultural significance of the yatra, the newly appointed chief minister said his government's priority remains saving lives amid the coronavirus pandemic. Hours ago, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) wrote to Dhami urging him to disallow the Kanwar Yatra this year in light of the pandemic. Dhami had earlier said the yatra is a matter of shraddha (reverence) and aastha (faith), and God would not like anyone to die.

Source: Hindustan Times July 13, 2021 14:02 UTC