Uttar Pradesh: Covid-19 pandemic upsets Pratapgarh’s plans for Shrawan Mela this year

PRAYAGRAJ: The novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have hit the plans to organise the annual Shrawan Mela in Pratapgarh district.
With the current curbs on gatherings as a measure to keep Covid-19 at bay, Pratapgarh police and authorities of Bhayharan Nath Dham on Monday refused to let owners of swings and toy trains to put up the slides as part of preparations for the Shrawan Mela.The fair was slated to be organised on July 6 and on the premises of the Bhayharan Nath Dham.
Baba Bhayaharan Nath Dham is an ancient temple of Lord Shiva and situated in Katra Gulab Singh village along the banks of river Bakulahi in Pratapgarh district.
The temple enshrines a Shivlinga, which is believed to have been established by the Pandavas. A grand fair is organised during the Hindu month of Shrawan every year.
On Monday, when the general secretary of the dham Samaj Shekhar was alerted that that owners of swings and toy trains were setting up the slides for the fair, he informed Jethwara police.
“Police apprised the owners that the Shrawan Mela had been cancelled in the wake of the pandemic and asked them to remove the slides and leave,” said Shekhar.
He also said that Bhayharan Nath Dham had already cancelled the weekly Tuesday fair because of the pandemic.