Ban on Kanwar yatra in Ujjain, only 50 devotees allowed inside Mahakaal Temple

However, the state government led by chief minister Shivraj Chouhan is yet to take a decision about the continuance of Kanwar Yatra. Last year, the state government had banned the yatra in view of Covid.

Published on: Jul 21, 2021, 22:50:40 IST

By Shruti Tomar

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Ujjain district in Madhya Pradesh imposed a ban on Kanwar Yatra on Wednesday following similar bans on the pilgrimage imposed in UP, Uttarakhand and Delhi to prevent a fresh surge of Covid 19 cases, said a top district official.

Ujjain district administration has said that only 50 people will be allowed in the Mahakal temple at any point in time. (Hindustan Times)

Every year, more than two million devotees visit Mahakal Temple in Ujjain during the auspicious month of Sawan and at least one million of these are Kanwars. The district administration announced that this year it won’t allow more than 50 devotes inside the temple premises at any given point of time to ensure social distancing.

“Amid the possibility of the third wave of Covid 19, we can’t allow Kanwar Yatra in Ujjain. Only 50 people will be allowed in the temple at one time,” said Ujjain in-charge collector Narendra Suryawanshi.

However, the state government led by chief minister Shivraj Chouhan is yet to take a decision in this regard. Last year, the state government had banned Kanwar yatra.

In MP, as many as 15 people tested positive on Wednesday and the number of active cases reduced to 185. The state government relaxed Covid 19 restriction after the positivity rate in the state decreased to 0.01 % and announced reopening of schools for class 11 and 12 students from July 26 and August 15 for classes 1 to 10. The cinema halls have also been allowed to reopen with maximum 50% capacity.

As of now, the state government has continued the ban on conducting, social, religious and political programmes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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