The Uttar Pradesh government has exempted the nine-day Ram Navami mela and Ram Mahotsav from the ban on large gatherings, as per multiple news reports. From March 25 -- April 02, around 10 lakh pilgrims, including elderly devotees, are expected to gather for these celebrations in Ayodhya. 

This is set to take place within the 30-day window that India has “to halt the beginning of community transmission of Covid-19 cases,” said Dr Balram Bhargava, the director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research as per news reports. He emphasized that “the time to act is now.”

Experts at the Indian Council of Medical Research have stated that we are in Stage II (local transmission) of the pandemic, where all coronavirus (COVID-19) positive cases are of people who have had international travel history, or those who have come in contact with this group. If we are not diligent and proactive, this will escalate to Stage III, i.e., community transmission.

Observing COVID-19’s rapid spread, the World Health Organization has strongly advised against any large public gatherings. The Organization has stated that social distancing measures can help reduce transmission and enable health systems to cope. Societies that practice social distancing have been able to slow the spread or “flatten the curve” of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these warnings and facts, the Ram Navami celebrations and Ram Mahotsav in Ayodhya, which are expected to attract up to 10 lakh people, have not been cancelled by the Uttar Pradesh state administration.

This decision has been taken by the UP government, which has implemented the WHO directive in other areas and ordered swimming pools, water parks, multiplexes, discos, and educational institutions to shut down. All other official celebrations have been shut down. So far, as of March 18, 16 people in Uttar Pradesh have already tested positive for COVID-19. Making an exception for the Ram Navami celebrations and Ram Mahotsav in Ayodhya is, therefore, ill-advised and has the potential to wreak havoc, given that effective screening and testing of a large number of people is impossible. Experts also warn that this virus could survive in a host for as long as 14 days without exhibiting any symptoms, posing an additional challenge to screening and testing efforts.

Newslaundry reported that the chief medical officer has placed an order with the Uttar Pradesh Medical Supplies Corporation for 25 thermal monitors, one lakh face masks, and 4,000 litres of hand sanitiser. 

This is a highly inadequate measure, as experts from the World Health Organization have warned that the use of masks and sanitizers is not enough to curb the spread of the coronavirus. In fact, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that social distancing alone is not enough and must be combined with adequate testing and screening, which will be impossible to execute by March 25, when lakhs of people are set to congregate in Ayodhya before encountering lakhs more as they return home. 

Without the total and unwavering enforcement of the advised measures, the situation will escalate as it has in other countries. Let us learn from Italy’s nightmare of inadequate hospital beds for dying COVID-19 patients; if we don’t, our population density will ensure it will be much worse for us. 

A mass gathering such as the Ram Navami and Ram Mahotsav celebrations could lead to a new chain of transmission of the pandemic. In light of this imminent threat, we the undersigned request you to sign this petition to urge the UP Government to protect the nation and cancel the public gathering related to the Ram Navami and Ram Mahotsav celebrations.

Sincerely,

Vinaya Kurtkoti, Independent journalist

Tony Kurian, PhD candidate, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT, Bombay

Shiphrah Deane Nagi, Content Marketing Specialist

Uma Badve, Entrepreneur, Trustee of Niwant Andha Mukta Vikasalaya and co-founder of Swalekhan

Shatakshi Gawade, Independent journalist

Image credit: Newslaundry.com