Uttarakhand Govt Halts VIP Darshan at Chardhams Till May 31, Bans Videography Near Temples

GG News Bureau
Dehradun, 17th May. The Uttarakhand government announced on Thursday that VIP darshan at the Chardhams—Kedarnath, Yamunotri, Badrinath, and Gangotri—will not be permitted through the rest of the month due to the large influx of devotees at the Himalayan temples. This decision is aimed at managing the massive crowds and ensuring a smoother pilgrimage experience.

Chief Secretary Radha Raturi communicated in a letter to her counterparts in all states and Union Territories that VIP darshan arrangements will be suspended at the Chardhams until May 31. Additionally, offline registration for the pilgrimage in Haridwar and Rishikesh will be closed until May 19.

The government has also imposed a ban on videography and the creation of social media reels within a 50-metre radius of the temples. This measure is intended to prevent gatherings that cause inconvenience to other pilgrims, Raturi explained. The Chardham Yatra, which began on May 10, has already seen 334,732 pilgrims from India and abroad visiting the shrines in the first six days.

Registration for the yatra started on April 25, and by Thursday evening, over 2.7 million devotees had registered for the pilgrimage. According to an earlier directive issued on April 30, VIP darshan was initially suspended until May 25. Devotees are required to register in advance and can only visit the temples on the dates specified during registration.

Chief Secretary Raturi also advised elderly devotees with medical histories to undergo health checks before embarking on the yatra and to adhere to the guidelines issued by the Health Department of Uttarakhand.

These measures are part of the state’s efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of all pilgrims during the Chardham Yatra.