Prayagraj: The annual Magh Mela would be more of a religious event this year as no recreational facilities and economic business activities will be permitted due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
A decision in this regard was taken in the first meeting of the Magh Mela 2021 advisory committee held at collectorate on Wednesday evening. The meeting was chaired by district magistrate Bhanu Chandra Goswami.
Magh Mela 2021 would be organised at Sangam and banks of the Ganga from January 14 (Makar Sankranti) to March 11 (Mahashivratri).
The committee decided that the market, called Meena Bazar, recreational facilities like swings or vendors selling toys, eatables etc., will not be permitted at Magh Mela 2021.
Besides, no religious discourse by saints or cultural activities organised by government or private agencies in the mela area will be held.
The DM also said that people coming to the mela area will have to show a maximum of three days old corona negative report. Besides, authorities will also prepare a database of Kalpvasis having comorbidities.
The mela administration has also issued an appeal that the elderly and people suffering from chronic, serious ailments, should not opt for Kalpwas and avoid coming to Magh Mela.
“I appeal to people suffering with diabetes, heart disease etc., not to plan Kalpwas and to stay home for their own good,” Goswami said.
The advisory committee has also suggested that allotment of land in Mela ground should be done sparsely so that kalpwasis live at a distance from each other and physical distancing is not compromised.
The DM said that in case someone tests positive in a camp then its each occupant would be quarantined for 15 days and their Kalpwas would be discontinued mid-way.
The administration has also decided that it would make sure that people at mela do not crowd.
The administration has requested the heads of acharyabada and dandibada to ensure that all seers coming to their camps undergo tests and allow them stay only after they submit a corona negative report of maximum of three days old. They should also keep a record of every visitor to their camp by noting down their Aadhaar number.
The advisory committee meeting presided over by the DM was also attended by ADM City A K Kanaujia and city magistrates Rajneesh Mishra, Rajendra Paliwal, Chandranath Chakha, Phool Chandra Dubey besides other officials.