INDIA, January 16, 2026 (India Today): The Uttarakhand government may soon take a decision that could significantly alter access to one of Haridwar’s most-prominent religious sites. The demand, raised by the Ganga Sabha and sections of the saint community, is for a complete ban on the entry of non-Hindus in and around Har ki Pauri and other Ganga ghats falling in the Kumbh Mela area. With the next Kumbh scheduled in Haridwar in early 2027, pressure on the Pushkar Singh Dhami government to act on the demand has intensified. Dhami has publicly indicated that his government is considering the issue seriously. He said religious sites such as Haridwar operate under specific legal frameworks and the government would take a decision within the scope of those laws, while keeping in mind the views of stakeholders such as the Ganga Sabha, which manages Ganga aarti at Har ki Pauri, and other religious organizations.

The trigger for the renewed push was an incident on January 13—two young men were seen roaming around Har ki Pauri and the Brahma Kund area dressed as Arab sheikhs and filming videos. The incident caused unrest among priests and local religious bodies, who demanded police action. The police detained the men. During questioning, it emerged both were Hindus who had dressed up to shoot videos for their YouTube channel. They were released after citations were issued. Even though the incident did not involve non-Hindus, it strengthened the argument of religious bodies that the sanctity of the area was being undermined and that stricter enforcement was needed. Following this, the Ganga Sabha sharpened its demand, calling not just for a restriction on tourists but a blanket ban on entry of non-Hindus at Har ki Pauri and surrounding ghats. This, it said, should extend to government departments, institutions and even media organizations.

More at source.
https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-haridwar-outfits-want-non-hindus-off-har-ki-pauri-2853172-2026-01-16

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