Bhubaneswar: The Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has proposed restricting the entry of non-Hindus into the revered Badrinath and Kedarnath temples, along with other shrines under its jurisdiction, citing the need to protect religious traditions and sanctity.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting of temple authorities held on Sunday. BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi said the matter will be formally placed before the committee’s upcoming board meeting for approval. If cleared, the restriction could extend to all temples managed by the BKTC.
Officials associated with the committee said the move is rooted in long-standing religious beliefs that regard these Himalayan shrines as places exclusively meant for Hindu worship. “The objective is to preserve the spiritual purity and traditional practices of these sacred sites,” a BKTC official said.
The development follows a similar decision by the Shri Gangotri Temple Committee in Uttarkashi, which recently barred the entry of non-Hindus at Gangotri Dham and Mukhba, citing concerns over maintaining sanctity. Reports suggest that comparable proposals are under discussion for other prominent temples in the state.
Reacting to the development, the Uttarakhand government said it would examine the recommendations made by the temple committees and take an appropriate decision in accordance with law and tradition.
The proposed restrictions are likely to spark wider debate, as they touch upon issues of religious tradition, constitutional rights, and temple administration, particularly at a time when Uttarakhand continues to witness a steady influx of pilgrims and tourists from across the country and abroad.
-OdishaAge
