3 months ago
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The Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) passed a connection connected Monday (March 11, 2026) to restrict the introduction of “non-Sanatanis” astatine the Badrinath and Kedarnath temples successful Uttarakhand.
The 2 shrines, portion of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit and located astatine an altitude of implicit 3,000 metres, are among the astir visited pilgrimage sites successful the State, whose system is importantly babelike connected spiritual tourism.
A akin determination to barroom “non-Hindus” from visiting the Gangotri and Yamunotri temples — besides portion of the Char Dham circuit — had been taken by priests astatine the 2 shrines successful January this year.
Speaking to The Hindu, BKTC president Hemant Dwivedi said the determination was taken astatine a gathering of the temple committee connected March 10.
“The committee has decided to restrict the introduction of non-Sanatanis into the Badrinath and Kedarnath temples,” helium said.
Explaining the word “Sanatani”, Mr. Dwivedi said, “Anyone who has religion successful Sanatan Dharma is simply a Sanatani. Anyone who applies vermillion connected the forehead and tin recite the Chalisa is simply a Sanatani.”
Mr. Dwivedi besides said the committee had approved a fund of ₹121.07 crore for the 2026-27 pilgrimage year.
According to fund provisions, ₹57.47 crore has been allocated for the Badrinath temple and ₹63.60 crore for the Kedarnath temple. The projected expenditure stands astatine ₹99.45 crore against the estimated income, helium said.
The fund has been prepared for the upcoming pilgrimage season. The Kedarnath temple is scheduled to unfastened connected April 22, followed by the opening of the Badrinath temple connected April 23. The Gangotri and Yamunotri temples volition unfastened connected April 19 for Akshaya Tritiya.
The gathering besides discussed amendments to definite provisions of the BKTC Act, which subordinate to appointments and traditions of the Rawal (chief priest), improving worship and darshan arrangements, worker promotions, removal of wage anomalies for impermanent staff, and an summation successful honorarium.
