Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chardham Yatra 2026 is going to start from 19th April. On this day the doors of Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams will open. In view of the Chardham Yatra, the process of registration of devotees has also started from March 6. Arrangements are being completed by the government administration, so that better facilities can be provided to the devotees coming to visit Chardham. The government has already taken the decision to ban mobile phones in Chardham. At the same time, the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee has taken an important decision regarding barring the entry of non-Hindus into the Dhams. In this, during the upcoming Chardham Yatra, non-Hindus will not be able to enter the Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham premises. Along with this, BKTC has also banned the entry of non-Hindus in 45 other temples under their control.
Big decision of Badri-Kedar Temple Committee:
In fact, in January this year in Uttarakhand, Ganga Sabha had raised the demand to ban the entry of non-Hindus at Harki Paidi. For this, Ganga Sabha had also put up non-Hindu entry no zone boards at various places in Har Ki Paidi. After this this matter remained much discussed. Every year crores of devotees reach Haridwar to take bath in Har Ki Pauri. After the demand of Ganga Sabha to ban the entry of non-Hindus, the demand of banning the entry of non-Hindus in Chardham also started being raised. During that time, Badri Kedar Temple Committee Chairman Hemant Dwivedi had said that during the upcoming board meeting, he would pass a proposal to ban the entry of non-Hindus in the temples under BKTC.
Entry of non-Hindus prohibited in 47 temples of Uttarakhand including Darinath-Kedarnath:
In such a situation, while on one hand the budget session is going on in Bharadisain Assembly building located in Gairsain, the summer capital of Uttarakhand, on the other hand, on Tuesday i.e. March 10, a budget meeting was called at the camp office of BKTC in Dehradun. During the budget meeting chaired by BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi, a budget of Rs 121.7 crore was passed for the upcoming financial year 2026-27. Along with this, the most important proposal was also approved, on which the eyes of the entire country were fixed. In fact, during the budget meeting, a proposal was made to ban the entry of non-Sanatanis in 47 temples of Uttarakhand under BKTC, including Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham. As soon as there was consensus on this, this proposal was passed.
Muslim leaders and organizations have already given mixed reactions:
In fact, when the demand was being raised to ban the entry of non-Hindus into religious places in Uttarakhand, questions were raised on this by various organizations including the opposition party Congress. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi had said in a press conference in Delhi that putting up posters barring entry of non-Hindus in Haridwar is like making a mockery of the Constitution. This is untouchability and a direct violation of the right to equality. If you have this kind of ideology, it means you do not believe in the law. Along with this, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind President Arshad Madani had also said that such restrictions can increase the feeling of division in the society. This is contrary to India’s shared culture and spirit of mutual respect. Only after this the round of statements started at the national level.
Dr. Ilyasi had supported: Dr. Imam Omar Ahmed Ilyasi, Chief Imam of All India Imam Organization, has supported banning the entry of non-Hindus in temples. He had said that this is a matter of religion and religion has its own importance. If the temple committee decides that non-Hindus cannot enter the Dham, then no one should have any objection. Every place has its own rules. Muslims should probably not go to Gangotri and if they go, it may lead to controversy. It is better to avoid visiting holy places of other religions. Non-Muslims are not allowed in Mecca and Medina, but no one objects to this. There should be no politics in such matters.
CM Dhami had left the decision to the temple committees:
In view of the demand to bar non-Hindus from entering religious places in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had also stressed that the decision would be taken after talking to the people running the religious places. During that time, the CM had said that there are all the religious places, mythological places and temples in the state, people from all the religious organizations who visit these places and operate them, people from Tirtha Sabha, people from Ganga Sabha, people from Kedar Sabha, people from Badri-Kedar Mandir Samiti and revered saint society, all these people operate the religious places. In such a situation, the government will move forward according to the opinion and opinion of all of them, because these places are places of great mythological importance.
Now a demand may arise to ban the entry of non-Hindus in other mythological temples:
However, the state government has not yet taken any decision regarding barring the entry of non-Hindus in the religious places present in the state, while the upcoming Chardham Yatra is going to start from April 19. Meanwhile, the Badri Kedar Temple Committee has taken an important decision to ban the entry of non-Sanatanis in 47 temples including Badrinath Dham and Kedarnath Dham. Besides, the proposal has also been passed in its budget meeting. In such a situation, during the upcoming Chardham Yatra, non-Hindus will no longer be able to enter 47 temples including Badrinath and Kedarnath under BKTC. After this decision of BKTC, it is expected that the demand for banning entry of non-Hindus in other mythological and religious temples present in the state may also increase.
BKTC President said the demand was being raised for a long time:
Giving more information, BKTC President Hemant Dwivedi said that-
Those who believe in Hindutva and Sanatan Dharma and have faith in Baba Kedarnath and Badri Vishal, they are Hindus and they are Sanatani. In such a situation, we welcome people who believe in Sanatan Dharma. But those who are not followers of Sanatan Dharma, they are completely banned from coming to the temple area. The operation of the temple and the temple complex is under the Badri Kedar Temple Committee. In such a situation, entry of non-Hindus has been prohibited in the sanctum sanctorum and temple premises of 47 temples including Kedarnath Dham and Badrinath Dham. There was a demand for this in the state for a long time.
-Hemant Dwivedi, President, BKTC-
Decision taken for the sanctity of Dhams – Hemant Dwivedi:
Also, Badri-Kedar Temple Committee Chairman Hemant Dwivedi said that illegal tombs have been constructed inside Uttarakhand, people of a particular religion have carried out land jihad in the name of religious faith and have tried to spoil the environment here. Every year lakhs of devotees from all over the world are coming to the religious places in Uttarakhand. In such a situation, emphasis is being laid on how to maintain the religious and mythological faith and sanctity of the pilgrimage sites, so that devotees reach there only for pilgrimage. Because of this such decisions have had to be taken.
Hemant Dwivedi said the decision was taken under the Constitution:
After barring entry of non-Hindus in 47 temples including Badrinath-Kedarnath, on the question of barring entry of non-Hindus in other religious places in the state, Hemant Dwivedi said that everyone has faith in their own religion. There is also a provision in the Constitution as to how everyone should practice their religion. In such a situation, all the religions have their own traditions and their systems are seen in that way. In such a situation, all the Sanatan Dharma and religious places of Hindus are the soul of India. Where lakhs of pilgrims from all over the world come every year for faith and devotion. In such a situation, it is the duty of all of us to protect it to maintain its purity, mythology and identity.
In how many areas the entry of non-Sanatanis is restricted:
Uttarakhand is a hilly state. Most of the temples here are located on the hills. In such a situation, doli, kandi and horses and mules are used to reach the temple. These are also run by non-Hindus. The ban imposed by the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee on the entry of non-Hindus in 47 temples will not affect the employment of these people. Actually, the ban on entry will apply to the temple premises and the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. The rest of the drivers of doli, kandi and horse and mule can go outside the temple premises.
These are those 47 temples where entry of non-Hindus is banned:
The names of the 47 temples where BKTC has banned the entry of non-Hindus are as follows. Along with Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham, Triyuginarayan Temple, Narsingh Temple, Vishwanath Temple, Omkareshwar Temple, Kalimath Temple, Brahmakapal Shila and Parikrama- Badrinath, Tapt Kund, Shankaracharya Samadhi, Madmaheshwar, Tungnath, Rudranath, Kalpeshwar, Yogdhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Adi Badri, Vriddha Badri, Mata Murti Temple, Vasudev Temple, Gauri Kund Temple, Adikedareshwar Temple, five Shila Badrinath (Narad Shila, Narasimha Shila, Barahi Shila, Garuda Shila and Markandeya Shila), five streams (Prahlad Dhara, Kurma Dhara, Bhrigu Dhara, Urvashi Dhara and Indira Dhara), Usha Temple in Ukhimath, Kalishila and Vasudhara.
Meaning of non-Hindu or non-Sanatani:
BKTC and Gangotri Yamunotri Temple Committees have already made it clear that non-Hindus, i.e. those who do not believe in Sanatan Dharma, are barred from entering the temple. These restrictions do not apply to Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists who come from Hindu Sanatan Dharma. In such a situation, people of these three religions will be able to go to temples.
What is BKTC?
BKTC is Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee. Under this, including these two big temples, 47 other temples come. BKTC looks after the arrangements of these temples. This includes the management, security and maintenance of temples. BKTC works under the Act of 1939. Badri-Kedar Temple Committee makes arrangements for the opening and closing of the doors of Badrinath and other temples including Kedarnath. Along with this, it is also their responsibility to pass the budget for the development of these temples and the comfort of the pilgrims. In the budget meeting of BKTC held on Tuesday, a budget of ₹ 121 crore has been passed for Chardham Yatra 2026. BJP leader Hemant Dwivedi is currently the president of BKTC.
