Uttarakhand Temple Bodies Move to Restrict Entry to Hindus Only, Stir Political Debate

Temple management bodies in Uttarakhand have begun moving towards restricting access to several prominent shrines exclusively to Hindu devotees, arguing that the step is necessary to protect centuries-old religious practices and cultural traditions.

At Gangotri Dham, a key shrine of the Char Dham circuit, the Shri Gangotri Temple Committee has taken a unanimous decision to deny entry to non-Hindus. The restriction will also be enforced at Mukhba village, which serves as the winter residence of Goddess Ganga. Committee chairman Suresh Semwal said strict implementation would be ensured to preserve the sacred nature of the site.

Similar measures are being considered by the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC). Its chairman, Hemant Dwivedi, who is also a senior BJP leader, said a formal proposal to bar non-Hindus from entering Badrinath, Kedarnath and the 45 temples managed by the committee would be placed before the BKTC board shortly.

Dwivedi maintained that many temples in the Kedarnath and Mana areas traditionally allowed entry only to Hindus, but claimed that these practices were weakened during the tenure of earlier non-BJP governments. According to him, the move is intended to reaffirm traditional norms and ensure they are uniformly followed.

Backing the state government’s recent drive against illegally built shrines, Dwivedi said the initiative would help reinforce Uttarakhand’s spiritual identity, protect its cultural heritage and improve law and order. He added that closer coordination between the government and temple bodies would be key to maintaining the sanctity of pilgrimage centres.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, reacting to the developments, said the government would proceed in line with the recommendations made by temple committees and institutions overseeing religious sites.

At the same time, arrangements are being finalised for the reopening of the Char Dham temples after their annual winter closure. Badrinath temple in Chamoli district is set to reopen on April 23, following the completion of traditional rituals at the Tehri royal palace in Narendra Nagar on the occasion of Basant Panchami. Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines in Uttarkashi district will reopen on April 19, marking Akshaya Tritiya, while the date for the reopening of Kedarnath Dham in Rudraprayag will be declared on Maha Shivratri.

The announcements have drawn sharp political reactions, with opposition parties alleging that the BJP-led government is using the issue to divert public attention.

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