On Sunday, devotees lined up at the Ganga river to take a holy dip on the occasion of Ganga Dussehra.
Circle Officer at Har ki Pauri, Haridwar said to ANI, "We asked people to take holy dip at their homes. At border, only people with negative RT-PCR certificates being allowed. We're urging people at Ghat to follow COVID norms."
In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, repeated announcements were being made at the Ghat for people to adhere to COVID-19 protocols and proceed to their homes after offering prayers.
Ganga Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day (Dashami) of the waxing phase of the moon (Shukla Paksha) in the Hindu month Jyeshtha, which also marks the day when Goddess Ganga is believed to have descended from the heavens to Earth.
Devotees believe that taking a dip in the river on this day will get them rid of their sins and also heal any physical ailments.
Namami Gange activists offer prayers at Ganga Ghat on the occasion of the Ganga Dussehra festival in the ongoing Covid-induced lockdown, in Varanasi, Sunday, June 20, 2021. | PTI
Police personnel deployed to stop devotees coming to offer prayers at Ganga Ghat on the occasion of the Ganga Dussehra festival, in the ongoing Covid-induced lockdown, in Varanasi, Sunday, June 20, 2021. | PTI
Police personnel deployed at Ganga Ghat on the occasion of the Ganga Dussehra festival, made repeated announcements to adhere to Covid-19 protocols in Varanasi, Sunday, June 20, 2021. | ANI
Devotees offer prayers at Ganga Ghat on the occasion of the Ganga Dussehra festival in the ongoing Covid-induced lockdown, in Varanasi, Sunday, June 20, 2021. | ANI
A pandit offers prayers at Ganga Ghat on the occasion of the Ganga Dussehra festival in the ongoing Covid-induced lockdown, in Varanasi, Sunday, June 20, 2021. | ANI
A devotee offer prayers at Ganga Ghat on the occasion of the Ganga Dussehra festival in the ongoing Covid-induced lockdown, in Varanasi, Sunday, June 20, 2021. | ANI
Devotees take holy dip at Har Ki Pauri Ghat, Haridwar in Uttarakhand on Ganga Dussehra on June 20, 2021. | ANI
Devotees take holy dip at Har Ki Pauri Ghat, Haridwar in Uttarakhand on Ganga Dussehra on June 20, 2021. | ANI
Devotees take holy dip at Har Ki Pauri Ghat, Haridwar in Uttarakhand on Ganga Dussehra on June 20, 2021. | ANI
With inputs from ANI.
