Before the ‘Ardh Kumbh’ mela scheduled for 2027, the Uttarakhand government is planning to restrict the entry of non-Hindus from the ghats of Haridwar. As per close sources, the ban will apply to an area of 120 Sq km covering 105 ghats in Haridwar.
The proposal to put a ban on non-Hindus from entering the listed ghats was given by Shri Ganga Sabha. Acknowledging these changes in a recent address, the chief minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, stated that Haridwar was a sacred and spiritual place, and the government was committed to “uphold its spiritual sanctity”. He also informed that provisions from the 1916 agreement, and others, were also being reviewed to safeguard the identity of the cultural places in Uttarakhand, also called ‘Devbhoomi’.
The agreement of 1916 by Madan Mohan Malviya sought to maintain the sanctity of the river Ganga by also including the restriction of non-Hindus from the ghats. The decision has drawn criticism and debates even among religious leaders, as its feasibility is being questioned due to the mass influx of pilgrims from across the world during the event.
The President of the All India Akhara Parishad, Ravindra Puri Maharaj, called this decision impractical. He also warned that the aspects of the decision must be considered cautiously before implementing it. However, religious leader Mahamandaleshwar Jyotirmanand endorsed the move, stating that since the Sanatana faith is already undermined, demands like these are justified.
The state is also considering declaring Haridwar and Rishikesh as ‘Sanatan holy cities’. The Chief Minister highlighted that the twin cities were the centre of spirituality in the state and attracted thousands of tourists every year. A government spokesperson also confirmed that the authorities are working to maintain security as well as religious purity during the upcoming event.
The move is expected to make strict guidelines over overnight stays and conduct on the ghats, before the 2027 Ardh Kumbh.
