Chardham Yatra from April 30: No Entry for Reel Makers, VIP Darshan Banned Despite Payment

Uttarakhand (The Uttam Hindu): The sacred Char Dham Yatra is all set to begin on April 30 this year with a host of new regulations in place. In a bid to preserve the sanctity of the pilgrimage and avoid disruptions, the entry of YouTubers, reel makers, and social media influencers into temple premises has been banned. The VIP darshan system, which previously allowed special access in exchange for payment, has also been abolished.

The Kedarnath-Badrinath Panda community has taken a firm stand against influencers creating noise and disturbance in holy sites. Rajkumar Tiwari, President of the Kedarnath Sabha, stated that last year, chaos erupted due to loud reels made using drums and trumpets in Kedarnath Dham. This disturbance echoed across the Shivalik mountain range for days, impacting the spiritual environment and nature. This time, cameras will not be allowed to even switch on near the premises. The administration has been informed and supports the decision. Similarly, Badrinath Panda Panchayat treasurer Ashok Todaria emphasized that allowing darshan in exchange for money goes against the dignity of divinity.

The Char Dham Yatra begins with the opening of the Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines on April 30 (Akshay Tritiya). The Kedarnath Dham will open its doors on May 2, followed by Badrinath Dham on May 4, marking the full-fledged start of the yatra. In anticipation of large crowds and unpredictable weather, 10 holding areas are being prepared in places like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Byasi, Rudraprayag, Sonprayag, and others. These sites will be equipped with hotel-like facilities including water, toilets, food, medicine, and beds for emergency stops.

Over 9 lakh pilgrims have already registered within the first six days, with Kedarnath Dham seeing the highest numbers at 2.75 lakh registrations, followed by Badrinath (2.24 lakh), Gangotri (1.38 lakh), Yamunotri (1.34 lakh), and Hemkund Sahib (8,000). Registration is currently available online via the Tourism Development Council website, and offline registration will begin once the yatra starts, with facilities set up in Haridwar and Rishikesh. A token system will also be implemented for darshan.