Dehradun: Actor Sara Ali Khan may soon be required to submit an affidavit to continue offering prayers at the Kedarnath and Badrinath temples, following a fresh directive issued by the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee. The announcement has sparked discussions across religious and public circles regarding rules for non-Hindu visitors seeking darshan at the two revered Himalayan shrines.
The statement was made by Badri-Kedar Temple Committee chairman Hemant Dwivedi during a media interaction on Tuesday. According to him, all non-Hindu visitors who wish to offer prayers at Kedarnath or Badrinath temples will now be required to submit a written declaration affirming their faith in Sanatan Dharma.
The directive is expected to apply uniformly to all non-Hindu devotees visiting the temples.
New rule for non-Hindu devotees
According to the temple committee, the new guideline requires non-Hindu visitors to submit an affidavit stating their belief in Hinduism before they are allowed to perform prayers at the temples.
Chairman Hemant Dwivedi said that devotees who express faith in Sanatan Dharma and provide a written declaration confirming their belief would be permitted to enter the temples for darshan.
He explained that the declaration must clearly state that the person believes in Hinduism and identifies with Sanatan Dharma.
The committee stated that the rule has been introduced to ensure that those participating in religious rituals at the temples genuinely respect and believe in the faith.
Directive applies to Kedarnath and Badrinath
The rule will apply to both Kedarnath and Badrinath temples, two of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in India located in Uttarakhand’s Himalayan region.
Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva and attracts lakhs of devotees every year. Badrinath, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is another major pilgrimage destination and forms an important part of the Char Dham Yatra.
Temple authorities said the requirement would apply equally to any non-Hindu visitor who wishes to perform prayers or take part in religious rituals at either shrine.
Sara Ali Khan’s visits to Kedarnath
The issue gained attention after references were made to actor Sara Ali Khan, who has been known to visit Kedarnath frequently over the years.
Sara Ali Khan first visited the temple during the shooting of her debut film “Kedarnath,” which was filmed in the region. Since then, she has continued to visit the shrine regularly and often shares photographs and videos from her trips on social media.
Her visits are usually personal pilgrimages rather than official appearances and have drawn public interest due to their consistency.
Temple committee chairman Hemant Dwivedi said that Sara Ali Khan would also need to follow the new rule if she wished to continue offering prayers at the temple.
“If Sara Ali Khan expresses her devotion towards Sanatan Dharma and submits an affidavit, we will allow her to offer prayers,” he said while addressing reporters.
Kangana Ranaut comments on the issue
Actor and Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut also commented on the controversy surrounding the directive and Sara Ali Khan’s visits.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament on Wednesday, Ranaut said there should be no hesitation in expressing faith openly.
“Sab sanatani hain… Yahan jo bhi hain sanatani hain… Wo bhi sanatani hai,” she said, suggesting that people should not hesitate to write down the truth if they believe in Sanatan Dharma.
Her remarks added another dimension to the debate, which has been widely discussed across social and political platforms.
Debate over access to temples
The new directive by the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee has triggered discussions about religious traditions and access to places of worship.
While temple authorities emphasise that the rule is intended to ensure respect for religious practices, critics and observers have raised questions about how the policy will be implemented and whether it could affect tourism and pilgrimage.
Experts note that Kedarnath and Badrinath attract a diverse range of visitors, including devotees, tourists and spiritual seekers from across the country and abroad.
Authorities have yet to release detailed guidelines explaining how the affidavit process will be implemented in practice.
Conclusion
The requirement for non-Hindu devotees to submit an affidavit affirming belief in Sanatan Dharma marks a significant policy move by the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee. As discussions continue around the directive, the focus will remain on how the rule will be enforced and its impact on visitors to the two major Himalayan pilgrimage sites.
For now, the committee has made it clear that anyone, including public figures like Sara Ali Khan, will be allowed to offer prayers only after complying with the new requirement.