Corona Daily 210: World’s Biggest Pilgrimage Kicks Off: Part Final

UNESCO has recognized Kumbh Mela as intangible cultural heritage.

Last year, many religious gatherings were cancelled or dramatically curtailed. Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, allowed a few thousand local visitors, compared to the two million every year. On Christmas eve, the pope celebrated midnight mass with a few dozen instead of the usual 10,000.  

Religious gatherings held last year have sometimes turned into super-spreader events. The earliest and best-known case was the Shincheonji religious group, which became the source of South Korea’s outbreak last February. By March, half of all the cases of that nation, numbering in thousands, were traced back to its members. US churches have contributed to the contagion. One Californian church caused seventy cases, one in Ohio ninety.

India faced its own crisis, when Tablighi Jamaat, a conservative Muslim missionary group led to a coronavirus cluster. The publicity for that event in social media was equally toxic and widespread.

Hinduism has 330 million gods. Mathematically, this pantheon offers a much better protection than a single Allah or Jesus. When questioned about a million people congregating in covid times, Kumbh mela’s chief organizer said, “I am sure mother Ganga will take care of their safety.”

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Indian newspapers are surprisingly silent about the Kumbh mela. No pictures, and no reports. Indian parliament is still shut because of covid-19. What about the courts? Why didn’t anyone go to the courts to point out the risks?

As a matter of fact, five different Public Interest Litigations (PIL) were filed in the State High Court last year. On 11 January, the bench met the relevant officials on Zoom and on 13 January issued an order.

At the beginning of the order, the court says the possibility of a congregation of millions emerging as a hot bed for the spread of coronavirus cannot be ruled out.

The learned chief secretary of the State informs the court that other states have been requested not to send too many pilgrims, but borders cannot be closed. To dissuade people, the state government has decided not to erect any tents for housing. Lack of tents would discourage the arrival of many pilgrims. (The pilgrims don’t know any of this.)

Court observes that Haridwar’s population is 2 million. On special days, 5 million visitors are expected, which takes the number to 7 million. What are the medical facilities available in case of a covid explosion?

The state government replied it has 5493 beds, and they should be sufficient. When the court expressed surprise, the learned chief secretary added that the Government Mela hospital in Haridwar has an ICU of 10 beds. Rishikesh, a nearby town has 165 beds with oxygen cylinders.

The court didn’t exactly agree with the learned state officials. In its order, it asked the state to write to the central government asking them to immediately issue SOP (standard operating procedures) for the Kumbh mela, 2021.

The state government should consider erecting sufficient number of tents to house the large number of devotees. It should also seriously consider increasing the medical equipment and health workers available. Other state governments across the country should be informed about the necessity of reducing the numbers at the mela.

It is noteworthy this order was issued one day before 700,000+ devotees arrived at Haridwar.

The Court has specified the next steps. After considering the court order, the State government should submit a report on or before 15 February. The learned secretaries of the state should appear on the video conference with the court on 22 February. Court has asked the registrar to give this case the top priority on that day.

As the judicial system normally works, the court will express unhappiness at the report and give a further date for hearing in March. This will continue until the Kumbh Mela is over. Unless there is a real outbreak, in which case the central government will issue an order closing the Kumbh Mela and banning entry in Haridwar. Something it could have done before the start of the mela.

Ravi