Open to devotees from any faith: Yamunotri temple authorities

DEHRADUN: Yamunotri temple authorities have said all devotees are welcome at the shrine and anyone with faith in Sanatan Dharma may seek Mother Yamuna’s blessings without hindrance, setting the dham apart from Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri, where authorities have supported restrictions on the entry of non-Hindus.Sunil Uniyal, the secretary of the Yamunotri Temple Committee, said all devotees visiting Yamunotri Dham were welcome. He stressed that the priority was to keep arrangements for pilgrims simple and hassle-free. His remarks came as other shrine bodies in the Char Dham circuit moved towards tighter entry conditions linked to declarations of faith and adherence to traditional norms. At Badrinath and Kedarnath, Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) chairman Hemant Dwivedi said that non-Hindus would be allowed darshan only if they submitted an affidavit affirming their faith in Sanatan Dharma. BKTC has already announced a ban on the entry of non-Hindus at the two shrines and 45 other temples under its jurisdiction in Garhwal. At Gangotri Dham as well, authorities are not in favour of allowing non-Hindus inside the shrine area. Suresh Semwal, the secretary of the Gangotri Temple Committee, said adherence to traditional norms was mandatory and clarified that entry was permitted only to those who observed Sanatan traditions and rules associated with “purity”. The differing positions have created a clear contrast within the Char Dham circuit ahead of this year’s pilgrimage, with Yamunotri taking a more open line while the other shrines favour formal conditions tied to belief and practice. The Char Dham yatra is scheduled to begin on April 19 with the opening of the portals of Yamunotri and Gangotri.