As a precautionary measure government cancels Machail Yatra
By: Muzamil Bhat CK
Srinagar
Due to the covid-19 infection still being around in Jammu and Kashmir, the administration has decided to cancel annual Machail Mata pilgrimage in Kishtwar district of the Union Territory.
On this yatra a large number of people used to assemble and move for the yatra and the authorities took the precautions that it can become one of the spreaders of the fresh wave of infection so they took a decision to cancel this yatra.
According to the news agencies while reporting about the cancellation of yatra they have said in their reports, as large numbers of religious congregations are not allowed as per guidelines and SOPs in view of the Corona pandemic, the Machail Yatra has been cancelled, official sources said here.
They said that earlier there was a plan to allow the pilgrimage but as COVID pandemic is not yet settled and the ‘Third Wave’ speculations are still doing the rounds, so keeping in view all aspects, finally the yatra has been cancelled.
Only traditional prayers and ‘hawana’ will be performed as per rituals, they said. Last year also, the yatra was cancelled due to the pandemic and only Charri with a limited number of devotees was allowed to visit the Mata Machail Temple.
With inputs from agencies
