Dehradun: Following a proposal to restrict the entry of non-Hindus at 105 ghats in the Kumbh area of Haridwar, the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) is considering a similar move at the shrines under its control. The committee administers the Char Dham shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, and 47 other temples across Uttarakhand.
According to sources, the proposal is expected to be placed before the BKTC board soon and has the support of most stakeholders.
BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi told The Times of India that the proposed restriction is based on long-standing tradition. “This has been followed since the time of Adi Shankaracharya. We see nothing wrong in preserving religious traditions,” he said. Dwivedi added that the entry of non-Hindus has historically been restricted at the shrines.
Citing Article 26 of the Constitution of India, which grants religious denominations the right to manage their own affairs, Dwivedi said the committee was within its rights to take such a decision. He also clarified that the term “non-Hindus” should not be misconstrued. “Those who respect our faith are welcome. The dhams are centres of faith, not tourism,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government is weighing a ban on the entry of non-Hindus at 105 ghats across Haridwar and is also considering declaring Haridwar and Rishikesh as sanatan pavitra shehar or holy cities.
Sources said the process could begin with the Haridwar Ardh Kumbh, scheduled from January 14, and may draw upon provisions of a 1916 agreement involving Ganga Sabha founder Madan Mohan Malviya.
