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Debate Rages over Entry of Non-Hindus Into Badrinath, Kedarnath
The committee cites faith and religious discipline as reasons for entry review, stating the temples are ancient Vedic centres, not tourist sites, amid ongoing debates.
- On January 26, 2026, Hemant Dwivedi, Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee president, said the board will pass a resolution banning non-Hindu entry at the February meeting, stating these are not tourist centres and entry is not a civil right.
- Citing Article 26, the committee argued the move aims to protect centuries-old faith, discipline and purity in Kedarnath and Badrinath as Vedic centres established by Adi Shankaracharya, stressing belief over formal identity.
- A senior unnamed office-bearer of the Temple Board said no discussion has occurred and warned traders and labourers, mostly non-Hindus, cannot simply be asked to leave, noting the Temple Committee is a 17-member government undertaking under the 1948 Act.
- Opposition parties accused the ruling BJP of politicising the issue, Harish Rawat criticised selective emphasis and hypocrisy, while Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the government will proceed cautiously.
- The four Char Dham sites recorded 51 lakh visitors in 2025, with Badrinath Dham seeing 16.6 lakh and Kedarnath 17.68 lakh, while Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar municipal laws regulate stays and access.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Uttarakhand: Row over non-Hindu entry into Badrinath Kedarnath temple
Dehradun: The debate on the entry of non-Hindus into temples under the Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee has intensified after it said that temples are not tourist centres and entry is not a matter of civil rights. Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee Chairman Hemant Dwivedi told PTI, “Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham are not tourist destinations. These are centres of the Vedic tradition established by Adi Shankaracharya. Article 26 of the I…
Hemant Dwivedi: BKTC To Ban Entry Of Non-Hindus In Badrinath And Kedarnath
On this Special Report, the focus is on the significant announcement by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) regarding entry restrictions. Hemant Dwivedi, Chairman of the BKTC, has stated that a resolution will be passed in the upcoming board meeting to prohibit the entry of non-Hindus into the world-renowned Badrinath and Kedarnath Dhams. Dwivedi emphasized that 'protecting the religious and cultural traditions of Dev Bhoomi Uttarakh…
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