HC allows holding of Gangasagar Mela stresses need for e- bathing

(Eds: Adds details)
    Kolkata, Jan 13 (PTI) The Calcutta High Court on
Wednesday allowed the Gangasagar Mela to be held this year
while laying emphasis on the need for 'e-snan' (e-bathing) to
avoid crowding for the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga
and the Bay of Bengal in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice T B N
Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee asked the West
Bengal government to provide 'e-snan' kit - a small container
with the holy water of Gangasagar - to pilgrims at the fair
site in Sagar Island for free and for a nominal fee to people
who order for it from other places.
    The state administration already announced that such
an arrangement has been made.
    The state government informed the court that the
number of pilgrims who have arrived this year is much less
than that in other years.
    It told the division bench that all health protocols
are being maintained in the fair which attracts lakhs of
pilgrims every year.
    In a report to the high court, the state's Director of
Health Services (DHS) said that the risk of COVID-19
transmission through bathing in flowing water like a river or
saline water in a sea is extremely low.
    "However, as a measure of abundant precaution,
pilgrims are allowed to go for a dip in a staggered manner
maintaining safe distance between one another," the DHS said
in the report.
    The court said that the only area of concern that was
troubling it was the issue of physical dip by pilgrims in
water, but in view of the report of the DHS, its apprehension
stands mitigated to a large extent.
"However, needless to say, that the state
administration shall continue to make all endeavours to
dissuade the pilgrims from going for a holy dip and opt for
e-snan," the division bench said in the order.
The report of the DHS mentioned that between December
25 and till January 12 this year, 1.65 lakh pilgrims have
visited Gangasagar, while approximately 12.5 lakh people
visited the Mela during the period in 2020.
    The court said that the PIL seeking restrictions on
congregation of the Gangasagar Mela in view of the pandemic
will be heard again on January 18, and directed the parties to
apprise it that the Gangasagar Mela is progressing under
controlled conditions on that date.
    The Calcutta High Court on January 8 directed the West
Bengal government to file on Wednesday a report on the
arrangements made for organising the Gangasagar Mela, based on
which it will decide whether or not to allow the annual fair
this year in the view of the pandemic situation.
WB-HC-LD GANGASAGAR
HC allows holding of Gangasagar Mela, stresses need for e-
bathing
(Eds: Adds details)
    Kolkata, Jan 13 (PTI) The Calcutta High Court on
Wednesday allowed the Gangasagar Mela to be held this year
while laying emphasis on the need for 'e-snan' (e-bathing) to
avoid crowding for the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga
and the Bay of Bengal in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice T B N
Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee asked the West
Bengal government to provide 'e-snan' kit a small container
with the holy water of Gangasagar - to pilgrims at the fair
site in Sagar Island for free and for a nominal fee to people
who order for it from other places.
    The state administration already announced that such
an arrangement has been made.
    The state government informed the court that the
number of pilgrims who have arrived this year is much less
than that in other years.
    It told the division bench that all health protocols
are being maintained in the fair which attracts lakhs of
pilgrims every year.
    In a report to the high court, the state's Director of
Health Services (DHS) said that the risk of COVID-19
transmission through bathing in flowing water like a river or
saline water in a sea is extremely low.
    "However, as a measure of abundant precaution,
pilgrims are allowed to go for a dip in a staggered manner
maintaining safe distance between one another," the DHS said
in the report.
    The court said that the only area of concern that was
troubling it was the issue of physical dip by pilgrims in
water, but in view of the report of the DHS, its apprehension
stands mitigated to a large extent.
"However, needless to say that the state
administration shall continue to make all endeavours to
dissuade the pilgrims from going for a holy dip and opt for
e-snan," the division bench said in the order.
The report of the DHS mentioned that between December
25 and till January 12 this year, 1.65 lakh pilgrims have
visited Gangasagar, while approximately 12.5 lakh people
visited the Mela during the period in 2020.
    The court said that the PIL seeking restrictions on
the congregation at the Gangasagar Mela in view of the
pandemic will be heard again on January 18, and directed the
parties to apprise it that the fair is progressing under
controlled conditions on that date.
    The Calcutta High Court on January 8 directed the West
Bengal government to file on Wednesday a report on the
arrangements made for organising the Gangasagar Mela, based on
which it will decide whether or not to allow the annual fair
this year in the view of the pandemic situation.
    Lakhs of pilgrims from across the country and abroad
flock to the Sagar Island -- about 130 km from Kolkata -- to
take the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga river and the
Bay of Bengal on the occasion of "Makar Sankranti".
    According to the calendar, the timing of the holy dip
this year will be for 24 hours from 6.02 am on January 14.
    Pilgrims also offer prayers at the Kapil Muni Ashram
during the Gangasagar fair, considered to be the second-
largest congregation after the Kumbh Mela. PTI AMR
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)