Uttarakhand government has determined to review its decision to stop all Kanwar yatra devotees from entering the state this year, prompting experts to vigil about a vertical surge in Covid infections if safety protocols are violated. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said that a decision on the Kanwar yatra will be taken in a day or two after consultation with the governments of neighboring states -- Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

"Kanwar Yatra is not a one-state affair. We will discuss the issue with other states, including Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh. The decision will be taken after the meet," the Chief Minister said, adding that  "A decision on Kanwar Yatra is likely in a day or two, and the government is also making endeavors to somehow begin the Char Dham Yatra".  On July 6, the Uttarakhand government had decided not to allow the yatra over fears of a third Covid wave and increasing cases of delta variant in the state.

Kanwar Yatra, which starts in late July with the start of Shrawan and goes on till early August covering a period of about 14 days, sees a huge crowd of Shiva devotees on the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar largely from UP, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal to collect its holy waters for "Jalabhishek" in Shiva temples.

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