Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021: Gathering starts today—check dates of shahi snan, ganga snan, Covid 19 guidelines and more

Haridwar Kumbh Mela commenced in Uttarakhand on Thursday (April 1). Kumbh Mela 2021 will be held for only 30 days, from April 1 to 30, this year in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Marking the beginning of Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021, devotees took holy dip at the Har Ki Pauri ghat in Haridwar on Thursday, said news agency ANI.

Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021 Covid 19 guidelines
Amid surge in COVID-19 cases, new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were issued by the state government to contain the spread of the virus. It has been made mandatory for all devotees coming to Haridwar Kumbh 2021 to strictly follow COVID-19 norms, including a negative RT-PCR test report. COVID-19 testing kiosks have been set up by the administration at the borders of the state to test people coming from outside.

See Zee Business Live TV Streaming Below:

Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021 shahi snan, Ganga snan dates
There is a total of 4 Shahi snan. Devotees will now participate in three remaining shahi snans which will take place on April 12, 14 and 27.  Earlier, first Shahi snan of Kumbh Mela 2021 was held on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri on March 11. Besides, there are as many as 9 Ganga snan to mark Kumbh Mela 2021.

Four Shahi Snans in Kumbh Mela 2021 will be held on:  
1 First Shahi Snan- 11th March- Shivratri    
2 Second Shahi Snan- 12th April Somvati Amavasya    
3 Third Shahi Snan- 14th April- Makar Sankranti  
4 Fourth Shahi Snan- 27th April- Baisakh Purnima    

Of total 9 Ganga Snan this year, now only 4 snans are left. Below are the dates of Haridwar Kumbh Mela Ganga Snan 2021:
1 January 14, 2021- Makar Sakranti Snan  
2 February 11, 2021- Mauni Amavasya Snan  
3 February 16, 2021- Basant Panchami Snan  
4 February 27, 2021- Magh Poornima Snan  
5 March 11, 2021- Maha Shivratri Snan  
6 April 12, 2021- Somvati Amamvasya Snan  
7 April 14, 2021- Baisakhi Snan  
8 April 21, 2021- Ram Navami Snan  
9 April 27, 2021- Chaitra Purnima Snan
Ardh Kumbh is held every six years, while the Kumbh Mela comes after 12 years. The festival is held at Haridwar, Allahabad, Ujjain and Nasik every 12 years in cycle, however, this year the festival will be held in its 11th year because of some planetary movements.