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Manushya sankat mein hai — humanity is in danger. This is a message the Panchayati Niranjani Akhada, one of the three oldest and major sects of Hindu sants and sadhus, has recognised loud and clear, leading to the announcement that its sadhus will be withdrawing from this year’s Kumbh Mela on account of the Covid-19 pandemic. The influential group, comprising at least 13 religious groups, is not short of faith or fervour. But with the death of Nirwani Akhada head Mahamandaleshwar Kapil Dev of Covid-19 on Thursday, the second largest akhada has done the right thing by exiting a super-spreader event.
Religious faith is not necessarily always in opposition to reason — it simply operates on a different belief system. So, for people finding the two coming in conflict over Covid protocols — whether it be in the US where ‘mask-wearing’ has been seen in some quarters as ‘un-Christian,’ or in India, where maintaining physical distancing is seen by some as a strategy to target religious communities — this is a false binary. Instead, any perceived conflict is little else but a cover to be apathetic to a mortal crisis. True faith will also provide the courage to do the right thing.
The Kumbh Mela is, in part, controlled chaos. At a time when every effort should be made to batter down the risk of Covid-spread, such congregations — religious or secular — need to be shut down. Over the last five days, Haridwar has reported 2,167 new cases of Covid. In February 2020, Saudi Arabia closed the two holy sites of Mecca and Medina to not expose Haj pilgrims to Covid. But Uttarakhand authorities don’t seem to have the gumption to announce a Kumbh closedown. One of the prime characteristics of religion is providing its faithful the sense of protection. Within the ambit of that function, keeping Hindus safe during a pandemic includes mortal, physical precautions. The Niranjani Akhada decision is, thus, doubly welcome as it serves both its faithful as well as sets an example for others to follow.
Courtesy - The Economic Times.
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