Only Hindus may soon be allowed to enter the centuries-old Badrinath and Kedarnath temples nestled in the lap of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand. Non-Hindus will be barred from entering the two temples that are part of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, the temple body managing these shrines has announced.
The barring of non-Hindus will apply to all temples controlled by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), including the Badrinath-Kedarnath Dham, said a temple official. A proposal to this effect will be passed in the upcoming temple committee board meeting.
Justifying the decision, BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi argued that temples are not tourist centres and entry is not a civil rights issue.
“Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham are not tourist destinations. These are centres of the Vedic tradition established by Adi Shankaracharya. Article 26 of the Indian Constitution gives every religious denomination the right to manage its own religious affairs. This decision is not against anyone but is to protect centuries-old faith, discipline, and purity,” he told PTI.
Asked if the temple doors would also close for Jain and Sikh devotees, he said the issue is not about any particular religion, but about faith and religious discipline.
“Anyone who has faith in Sanatan Dharma is welcome at Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham. There is no restriction for anyone who has faith in the Sanatan tradition,” he added.
The Badrinath temple will reopen its gates on April 23 after a six-month winter closure. The date for opening the Kedarnath temple gates will be announced on Maha Shivratri.
Besides Kedarnath and Badrinath, the other two shrines that are part of the Chota Char Dham include Gangotri and Yamunotri. Their gates will be reopened on April 19 on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.
