The conflict between religion and health has put the government of Uttar Pradesh — India’s largest state, with 230 million people — in a difficult bind. Adityanath, who has supported other mass pilgrimages such as last year’s Kumbh Mela, is supposed to help kick off the Ram festival. “Indians love to flock to these big festivals,” said Purohit, who grew up in India and now lives in Boston. Officials in Uttar Pradesh have said that if the pilgrims come, it is prepared with thermal monitors, 100,000 face masks and 4,000 litres of hand sanitiser, according to Newslaundry, an Indian news site. Bansal, the Vishva Hindu Parishad spokesman, was hopeful that everything would work out fine for the Ayodhya pilgrims.

Source: bd News24 March 20, 2020 07:18 UTC