HARIDWAR
: On Wednesday, lakhs of devotees thronged the
Har-ki-Pauri
and other ghats, to observe rituals for the pitri visarjani amavasya, the last day of the ongoing period of shradh.
Markets and other ghats in the town were abuzz with activity bringing smiles to the faces of shopkeepers and priests after a long time. However, Covid norms went for a toss as not many people were seen observing Covid protocol. At Brahmakund, the main Ganga ghat, people started doing tarpan and pind daan for their forefathers since early morning as Wednesday was the last day of the fortnight earmarked to pay tributes to one’s forefathers as per Hindu tradition.
Traffic jams in Haridwar due to pilgrim rush With the restrictions relaxed for the first time since the pandemic set in last year in March, pilgrims turned out in large numbers to perform their religious duty of tarpan and pind daan," Ganga Sabha president Pradeep Jha said. Keeping in view apprehensions of a huge turnout, traffic arrangements had been made by the administration.
However, brief traffic jams were seen at a few places. Huge crowds converged at Narayani Shila, a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu where it is believed that praying for ancestors is especially auspicious. “Due to the heavy rush, entry to the temple had to be closed,” said Manoj Tripathi, a priest. “The devotees were diverted to Ganesh Ghat near Niranjani akhara.”
Kusha ghat, Subhash ghat and many other ghats in the city were also packed to capacity.