The administration also advised temple management committees to disallow pilgrims from night stay in shrine premises
In order to enforce Covid protocols and check the possibility of a third wave of the pandemic, Sawan Jhula Celebrations in Ayodhya have been scaled down.
Borders have been sealed. District Magistrate Anuj Jha said only those carrying a negative RT-PCR report issued over a 24-hour span would be allowed entry into the town.
Partial closure of temples has been enforced and bathing has been barred at the Saryu ghats ahead of the monsoon fair by the Ayodhya administration.
Partial closure of temples has been enforced and bathing has been barred at the Saryu ghats ahead of the monsoon fair by the Ayodhya administration
Evacuation of devotees, who have been thronging the holy city for the ongoing ‘Sawan Jhula Mela’, has also started.
The administration also advised temple management committees to disallow pilgrims from night stay in shrine premises. The administration banned processions, ceremonies or gathering of devotees for puja
at Maniparvat temple, which holds the centrestage during ‘sawan mela’.
Earlier in April, ‘Ram Navami Celebrations in Ayodhya were scrapped, in which hundreds of seers were scheduled to come to Ayodhya to offer prayers at Ram Janmabhoomi temple on Ram Navami.
The district administration at that time had directed devotees to celebrate Ram Navmi at home and curtailed pilgrim presence at temples. District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha had said, “Our priority is to break the corona chain. We have taken all precautionary measures and banned all gatherings in Ayodhya.”
‘Ram Ki Paidi’ on the banks of Saryu river that used to be bustling with devotees for a holy dip in the river, wore a deserted look because bathing had been banned and all entry points were heavily barricaded.
