Dehradun: Only Hindus will soon be allowed to enter the centuries-old Badrinath and Kedarnath temples in Uttarakhand, with the temple body managing the shrines announcing a ban on the entry of non-Hindus.
The decision applies to all temples administered by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), including the two prominent shrines that form part of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. Confirming the move, BKTC president Hemant Dwivedi said that non-Hindus will be prohibited from entering temples under the committee’s control.
He added that a formal proposal in this regard will be placed and passed at the upcoming board meeting of the temple committee.
The Badrinath temple is scheduled to reopen on April 23 after remaining closed for six months during the winter season. The date for the reopening of the Kedarnath temple will be announced on the occasion of Maha Shivratri.
Apart from Badrinath and Kedarnath, the Chota Char Dham circuit also includes Gangotri and Yamunotri temples. The gates of both shrines are set to reopen on April 19, coinciding with Akshaya Tritiya.