Amid the COVID scare, will it be a good idea to go ahead with the Amarnath Yatra this year?

As the Shaivites and other devotees of Lord Shiva keep their fingers crossed regarding the Government’s nod to the Amarnath Yatra this year, scheduled to begin on June 28, the signals emerging from the administration are not too encouraging. It appears that the pilgrimage, organised annually by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, will not fructify this year after having been cancelled last year, too, on the shoulders of the rampaging COVID-19 pandemic. Though the authorities are still busy weighing the pros and cons before making any announcement, no harm would be done if it is cancelled another year. Under the prevailing circumstances, and especially having had the unsavoury experience of the second wave unleashing due to the carelessness and negligence of the common populace, it would actually be a good decision to err on the side of caution. Already, we have seen how the insouciance of the general public at large — eager to step out of their premises after staying cooped inside for months on end, but without observing the necessary COVID-appropriate protocol such as wearing masks properly, washing hands and using sanitiser frequently and maintaining social distancing — has taken a severe toll.

Then there were other, totally avoidable events like the Assembly election rallies and the Mahakumbh congregation that have served as nothing short of super-spreaders and brought upon us untold miseries, loss of employment and revenue and even the tragic loss of the lives of our loved ones. Besides, no God is so inadequate or selfish that He would mind the absence of teeming crowds at his place of worship. If anything, He would be empathetic and proud of the wisdom of his disciples. There already are several voices of sanity emerging from various social and religious bodies in Jammu that say that the final decision on the matter should be taken keeping the ongoing COVID-19 situation in mind. In a related development that also exhibits a sense of maturity, the Odisha Government has already announced that the annual Puri Rath Yatra, dedicated to Lord Jagannath, will be held while following the COVID-19 guidelines of the Supreme Court. However, this year’s Yatra will be held without the participation of devotees from the public; only those servitors who have a COVID-19 negative report or are fully vaccinated will be allowed to take part in the Yatra.