Uttarakhand bans VIP darshan and videography near temples
Uttarakhand bans VIP darshan and videography near temples
Devotees visiting one of the four sacred sites during the Char Dham Yatra.
The Uttarakhand Chief Secretary, Radha Raturi, has extended a ban on VIP darshan (special access to see the deities) until May 31. This decision aims to ensure that all devotees can visit the four holy sites during the Char Dham Yatra without any preferential treatment.
Additionally, Raturi issued an order prohibiting videography and the creation of social media reels within a 50-meter radius of the temple complexes in all four Dhams. This new rule is intended to respect the religious sentiments of the devotees.
On May 16, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi informed that the Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, instructed this prohibition. The ban on filming is meant to maintain the sanctity of the temples. Raturi stated, “Chief Minister held a detailed review of the arrangements of Char Dham, in Dehradun today. He has given directions that nobody will shoot videos or make reels in the 50-metre radius of the temple premises.” She emphasized that the use of mobile phones to shoot videos or create social media reels in restricted areas hurts the religious feelings of devotees. To preserve the sacred atmosphere and show respect to the pilgrims, these activities are not allowed within 50 meters of the temple premises. However, carrying mobile phones is still permitted as long as they are not used for filming.
Vinay Shankar Pandey, the Commissioner of the Garhwal Division, highlighted the increased number of pilgrims this year. He reported, “So far, 26.73 lakh devotees have registered for the Char Dham Yatra… More than 1.42 lakh offline registrations have been done in Haridwar and Rishikesh counters.”
The Char Dham Yatra is a significant pilgrimage that involves visiting four holy sites: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. These sites hold great religious importance in Hinduism. According to the official website of Uttarakhand Tourism, ‘char’ means four in Hindi, and ‘dham’ refers to religious destinations. This year, the Yatra started on May 10 and will continue until October-November. As many as 26 lakh devotees from across India and abroad have registered for the pilgrimage.
The Uttarakhand government has taken steps to make the Char Dham Yatra more inclusive and respectful by banning VIP access and restricting videography near the temples. These measures are expected to enhance the experience for all pilgrims and maintain the sanctity of these revered sites.
