In a bold policy shift, the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee has barred non-Sanatanis from entering sacred sites including Kedarnath and Badrinath unless they file an affidavit pledging allegiance to Sanatan Dharma. This ensures only the devout gain access to these holy abodes nestled in the Himalayas.
Chairman Hemant Dwivedi cited actress Sara Ali Khan as an example, recalling her bond with Kedarnath forged during her 2018 debut film shoot. ‘If Sara affirms her faith in writing, she’ll be welcome,’ he stated, signaling that genuine belief trumps mere tourism.
Bollywood star and BJP parliamentarian Kangana Ranaut backed the rule during a Parliament chat with IANS. ‘There’s no issue with Sara declaring her Sanatan faith formally,’ she said. Defining Sanatan as ‘that which has no origin or end,’ Kangana asserted its supremacy over newer faiths. ‘Everyone here is inherently Sanatani by birth and tradition.’
She dismissed any discomfort with the affidavit process, urging Sara to proceed confidently. Kangana then turned fire on Rahul Gandhi, decrying his ‘tuc-tadak’ parliamentary style and use of offensive words in interviews as highly inappropriate.
As pilgrims flock to these eternal shrines, the new protocol reignites discussions on protecting spiritual heritage while navigating modern India’s diverse populace.