Badrinath-Kedarnath Committee Bans Non-Hindus from Temples

• The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) announced a ban on non-Hindus entering Badrinath-Kedarnath Dham and other temples under its control.
• Only Hindus will now be permitted to enter the historic Badrinath and Kedarnath temples in Uttarakhand, which are part of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit.
• BKTC president Hemant Dwivedi confirmed the prohibition, stating it applies to all temples managed by the committee.
• A formal proposal for this decision is expected to be passed in the upcoming temple committee board meeting.
• The Badrinath temple is set to reopen for devotees on April 23, after its winter closure, while Gangotri and Yamunotri will reopen on April 19.

Why It Matters: BKTC has decided to restrict entry to Badrinath-Kedarnath and other temples exclusively for Hindus.