The state government of UP has given a go-ahead to the Ram Mela amid Coronavirus outbreak that will be held in Ayodhya from March 25 to April 2. The Ram Mela or religious fair is supposed to be important; especially this year, as it will also be celebrating the Supreme Court's historic decision taken in favour of Ram Mandir in November last year.
The UP government certainly has chosen tradition over the pandemic that has been claiming lives across the globe. Despite expert advice, the government is going ahead with the age-old Ayodhya Ram Navami Mela.
Though the Chief Medical Officer of the state has raised concerns about the same, but the local administration stays undeterred. In fact, the chief priest of Ram Lalla Mahant Satyendra Das has appealed that the fair must go on and shouldn’t be stopped. Instead, there must be arrangements to keep devotees safe by the government.
"There is no question of shifting the Ram Navmi Mela, it is a matter of faith for crores of people. Ayodhya faced so many issues, but the fair has never been stopped. The authorities should make proper arrangements for sanitisation and other facilities instead of suggesting not to hold the fair. People's sentiments will be hurt, along with the business getting affected if the fair is cancelled," Das told the media.
This is after the UP government-issued advisories against mass gatherings, including schools and offices shutdown. A number of international cricket matches too have been cancelled over the fears.
It is expected that the mass gathering would be attended by lakhs of people despite the Coronavirus outbreak.