The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday gave green signal for the Gangasagar Mela to be held this year under certain terms and conditions where it laid emphasis on the need for ”e-snan” (e-bathing) to avoid crowding for the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice T B N Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee asked the West Bengal government to emphasize more towards social distancing and provide ”e-snan” kit a small container with the holy water of Gangasagar – to pilgrims at the fair site in Sagar Island for free and for a nominal fee to people who order for it from other places.
The state administration already announced that such an arrangement has been made. It informed the court that the number of pilgrims who have arrived this year is much less than that in other years.
It told the division bench that all health protocols are being maintained in the fair which attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year.
Bengali