Uncertainty looms over 3-day Pehowa Chaitra Chaudas fair
Nitish Sharma
Tribune News Service
Kurukshetra, April 4
Uncertainity prevails over the upcoming three-day Chaitra Chaudas fair, which is expected to be organised from April 9 to 11 at the Saraswati Tirtha in Pehowa, Kurukshetra.
Devotees from Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, UP and Delhi reach Pehowa during the Chaitra Chaudas fair in large numbers to offer prayers to their ancestors. Last year, the fair was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic and even this year, the government is yet to issue any notification or guidelines regarding the fair as the Covid cases are increasing day by day.
The local ‘tirtha purohits’ have been seeking permission for the fair, on the pattern of Kumbh, and release of fresh water into the Saraswati Tirtha. They said the fair was cancelled last year and it proved to be a major financial setback for not only the purohits but for the local traders as well. Recently a delegation of ‘tirtha purhoits’ and religious organisations met Pehowa MLA and Sports Minister Sandeep Singh in this regard.
Vikram Chakrapani, president, Brahmin Panchayat, Pehowa, said, “Lakhs of people are coming to Haridwar daily and the government should implement the same guidelines here as well. The Haryana Government should allow the devotees to go to Pehowa with negative Covid reports, and the administration can also conduct on-the-spot rapid tests. We are ready to give every support to the administration and it can take all measures to stop the spread of Covid. If the rallies can be organised then there should be no objection in organising the fair.”
Akshay Nanda, BJP district media co-incharge, who led the delegation, said, “ Chatira Chaudas is an important fair and following the request made by the delegation, Sandeep Singh has raised the matter with the Chief Minister and other senior officials, including the ACS (Health). The government may change the form of the fair and impose some restrictions. We are hopeful that soon some guidelines will be issued for the fair.”
