Just In Time: UP Government Relaxed Night Curfew Restrictions For Janmashtami; Orders Issued On Festival Morning

The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government relaxed the night curfew that is in effect in Uttar Pradesh, from 10 pm to 6 am everyday, in view of the coronavirus pandemic, yesterday. The relaxation was ordered for Janmashtami celebrations.

State additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said that the exemption to the night curfew, which will be reinstated from today (31 August), was granted with prescribed attendance limit at programmes organised for Janmashtami.

Awasthi also directed the district magistrates and superintendents of police of all districts to ensure that Krishna Janmashtami be celebrated with full vigour in the police lines and jails, with strict adherence to Covid protocols like wearing masks, using sanitisers and maintaining social distancing norms.

The decision to relax the curfew was welcomed by devotees, who missed the opportunity to undertake the Kanwar Yatra earlier this year.

In July, when the Uttar Pradesh government announced its decision to allow the Kanwar Yatra, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the government’s decision and asked the state administration to reconsider its decision.

Even the Centre asked the Supreme Court not to allow the states to organise the Kanwar Yatra to Haridwar in Uttarakhand. Consequently, the Kanwar sanghs, in consultation with the UP government, had to call off this year’s Kanwar Yatra in view of the pandemic.

Different Rules For Different Festivals?

While the Supreme Court, despite low Covid cases in UP, persuaded the state government to call off the yatra, the apex court merely reprimanded the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in Kerala, which has the highest Covid numbers in the country, on the very last day of the three-day relaxation for Bakrid.

The top court warned of prompt action only if there is any spread of the Covid-19 infections due to the lockdown relaxations by the Kerala government.

Krishnotsav Inaugurated

Earlier, Shailjakant Mishra, the vice president of UP Vraj Teerth Vikas Parishad, told PTI, “On Monday, CM Adityanath will arrive in Mathura at 3.30pm. He would first go to Ram Lila ground to inaugurate the Krishnotsav.”

The three-day Krishnotsav included many programmes which showcased the birth of Lord Krishna as well as the rich culture and heritage of Mathura, according to the CEO of Uttar Pradesh Vraj Tirth Vikash Parishad, Nagendra Pratap, reports Hindustan Times.