No religious procession in UP during Muharram as per new guidelines

Uttar Pradesh police on Sunday released new guidelines banning all types of religious processions during Muharram in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Muharram processions are not allowed because of new Covid curbs, said UP police (Representative Image: PTI)

Uttar Pradesh police on Sunday released new guidelines banning all types of religious processions during Muharram in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 10-day festival starts on August 10th.

The UP Directorate-General of Police (DGP), Mukul Goel, ordered that Muharram should be celebrated in the state alongside compliance with Covid-appropriate behavior and taking into account the restrictions to combat the pandemic.

Mukul Goel also announced that it is forbidden to show any kind of weapon during the Muharram. He has instructed police officers to take preventive action against anti-social elements and to keep a close eye on fake and provocative content on social media.

The UP DGP also urged its officials to communicate with religious leaders to raise awareness about Covid-19 and the need to celebrate Muharram indoors. “All programs to be held on Muharram should be decided at the meeting of the Peace Committee,” added Mukul Goel.

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He also ordered the use of sufficient police forces in sensitive areas. The DGP instructed: “A sufficient number of police PAC reserves should be kept in each district. Make plans to deal with each situation and rehearse them.”

Stop muharram after the ban on Kanwar Yatra

Uttar Pradesh’s decision not to allow religious processions during Muharram came after Yogi Adityanath’s government banned Kanwar Yatra earlier this month due to the raging Covid-19 pandemic.

The UP government decided not to allow Kanwar Yatra after the Supreme Court asked the state government to reconsider its original decision to allow “symbolic” observance of the annual pilgrimage in the state.

Meanwhile it is Center had also asked the Supreme Court not to allow the states to organize the Kanwar Yatra to Haridwar in Uttarakhand and at the same time to call on the state governments to ensure the availability of Gangajal for “Kanwariyas” in the face of the pandemic.

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