Edinburgh police break up Hindu festival gathering on city beach as concerns raised over Covid rule breach

Police were called to break up a religious gathering in Edinburgh in which a number of people appeared to breach Covid-19 restrictions.

A video posted on the Facebook group Bihari Community of Scotland shows around 40 people on a beach in the Western Harbour area of the city on Saturday morning, with the post stating it was for the Hindu celebration of the Chhath Puja.

Chhath, celebrated six days after Diwali, is a major festival for people of Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and is dedicated to the Sun god and a key ritual involves devotees standing in water - at places like beaches or riverbanks - and making offerings to the deity at sunset and sunrise.

A police spokesperson said they were made aware of the gathering at around 9:45am on Saturday, adding: “A group had gathered in the Lower Granton Road area, Edinburgh. Officers attended, advice was given and they dispersed.”

Concerns were raised over adherence to the coronavirus restrictions. Pic: Bihari Community of Scotland Facebook

No fines were issued as a result of the gathering.

The Scottish Government website does not appear to make specific reference to outdoor religious gatherings like this but states that, under tier three restrictions, indoor acts of worship are limited to a maximum of 50 people providing there is sufficient space to maintain two metres social distancing with those of another household.

More generally, in line with tier three restrictions, a maximum of six people can meet outdoors from two separate households while maintaining a two metre social distance from those of another household.

A maximum of 20 people are allowed to attend weddings, civil partnerships and funerals in a place of worship, registration office or hospitality venue - providing the venue’s capacity allows for social distancing - under coronavirus level three protection measures.

Pictures showed large groups of people together for the Chhath Puja celebrations on Saturday. Pic: Bihari Community of Scotland/Facebook

A statement posted on the Bihari Community of Scotland Facebook page on Tuesday said: “We have seen the news in Evening News and all at BIhari Community of Scotland (BCS) extend unreserved apology for the error in judgement on the occasion of Chhath - the most auspicious poojas for us.

“We should have looked more carefully into the rules for religious occasion and should have been careful all the time.

“We would never break the rules intentionally, hence immediately dispersed when pointed by the police. We are all law abiding citizens hence are very disappointed with the error even if it was unintentional. Sorry.”

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