The Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) on Tuesday passed a proposal seeking to restrict entry of non-Hindus into Kedarnath and Badrinath temples, officials said.
The proposal was approved during the committee’s budget meeting held in Dehradun under the chairmanship of BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi. The committee also approved an estimated budget of more than $121 crore for the Hajj season 2026-27.
Justifying the decision, Dwivedi said the proposal aims to formalize the practice of restricting the entry of those who do not follow Sanatana Dharma into temples run by the committee. “The proposal to restrict entry of non-Satanites into Kedarnath and Badrinath temples was approved during the BKTC budget meeting on Tuesday. The decision is not against anyone. Strict measures are needed to maintain the sanctity of Devbhoomi and its holy shrines,” he said.
Explaining the scope of the move, Dwivedi said that under Article 25 of the Constitution, the term “Hindus” is interpreted to include followers of Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism. “We will verify the registration details of devotees, which include Aadhaar card information,” he said.
Dwivedi said entry of non-Hindus has traditionally been restricted in temples, and the proposal seeks to bring the practice under a formal framework.
He added that consultations were held with priests and religious bodies before approving the proposal.
Earlier this year, Dwivedi had said that these shrines are not tourist destinations but the supreme spiritual centers of Sanatan tradition. He added that the issue of non-Hindus entering these sites is a matter of religious belief. Defending the proposal, Raj Kumar Tiwari, president of Kedar Sabha, which represents the priests of Kedarnath Dham, welcomed the move. “We welcome the proposal. Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains are considered Sanatans, so they will be allowed to enter the temple, while others will not be allowed to enter the shrine area,” he said.
During the meeting, the committee also approved several other measures, including restricting the use of mobile phones to a specified distance from the shrines, strengthening pre-pilgrimage arrangements, opening the temple committee camp office at the transit camp in Rishikesh and bringing online worship facilities among others. “The aim of BKTC is to provide safe, simple and accessible darshan arrangements to pilgrims,” Dwivedi said.
