After visiting Haridwar Kumbh Mela, former Nepal King Gyanendra Shah and his wife Komal Shah have tested positive for Covid19.
According to media reports, after taking a holy bath in the Ganges at Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar during the Maha Kumbh Mela, the former Nepal King along with his wife returned home.
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A report quoted Nepal’s health ministry sources as saying that the royal couple’s samples were confirmed positive for Covid19 after Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests.
It has been reported that former King Gyanendra along with his wife reached Haridwar on April 11 and met Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Kailashananda Giri Maharaj of Niranjani Akhara during the visit.
The former Nepal King also interacted with a large number of sadhus and pilgrims during the visit.
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As per another report, Gyanendra was formally felicitated in an event where he was hailed as the “Hindu samrat”.
Hundreds of people had gathered around the airport at Kathmandu to welcome the former king and queen during their arrival back home.
As per reports, contact tracing of the former royals has started.
In the event, Gyanendra was seen interacting with seers without a mask.
Gyanendra was criticised for attending the event without following Covid19 protocol.
On April 12, he also participated and led the procession of the Niranjani Akhara during the Shahi Snan of the Haridwar Kumbh Mela.
More than 5,000 devotees tested positive for Covid19 after participating in the Haridwar Kumbh Mela after which Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an appeal to keep the event “symbolic”.
In 2008, Nepal’s monarchy was abolished and Gyanendra is regarded as the last king to serve the formerly Hindu kingdom of Nepal.
The royal family of Nepal, however, continues to maintain close relations with various ‘akharas’ and pilgrimage centres in India where the king is regarded as a divine figure.