No Shooting Videos Or Making Reels on Char Dham Yatra
This year, there has been an update to the highly regarded Char Dham Yatra, which brings millions of pilgrims to Uttarakhand from all over the world in an effort to maintain the sacred sites’ holiness. The chief minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, has made it illegal to film or edit reels within 50 meters of the temple’s grounds. This decision, which was made after a careful examination of the Yatra’s plans, aims to respect the devotees’ religious beliefs.
Preserving Sanctity and Respecting Sentiments
The chief secretary, Radha Raturi, stressed how crucial it is to preserve the shrines’ holiness. “Within a 50-meter radius surrounding the temple grounds, no one will be permitted to film movies or create reels, per the Chief Minister’s directive. This action is being taken in consideration of the followers’ religious beliefs,” she said. While it is still permissible to carry a cell phone, it is now completely forbidden to shoot videos near shrines.
This move is a reaction to many reports of excessive activity, including music and dancing near the temples. Since these acts were perceived as insulting and damaging to the pilgrims’ religious feelings, the government has implemented these new regulations.
A Resounding Reaction from Followers
There is still a large stream of pilgrims on the Char Dham Yatra in spite of these new rules. This year, more than 26.73 lakh pilgrims have registered for the Yatra, with more than 1.42 lakh registrations made offline at Haridwar and Rishikesh counters. This is a notable rise over the prior year, demonstrating the pilgrims’ unwavering dedication and zeal. Vinay Shankar Pandey, Commissioner, Garhwal Division, emphasized the extraordinary attendance, especially in Kedarnath, where more than a lakh pilgrims have come since the place opened on May 10.
Kedarnath saw a record-breaking 1,26,306 people in only four days. There’s also a lot of activity in the other Dhams, Gangotri and Yamunotri, which is a sign of the Yatra’s great spiritual importance.
Char Dham’s Spiritual Journey
Deeply ingrained in Hinduism, the Char Dham Yatra takes place from April–May to October–November. Traditionally, this holy trip is finished in a clockwise manner, beginning in Yamunotri, proceeding to Gangotri, Kedarnath, and ending in Badrinath. Both air and road travel are options for the trip; helicopter services are offered for convenience. Visiting only Kedarnath and Badrinath, some pilgrims choose to go on a Do Dham Yatra, according to the official Uttarakhand tourist website.
All four locations have great spiritual importance. Yamunotri honors the Yamuna River, Gangotri the Ganga River, Kedarnath the Shiva River, and Badrinath the Vishnu River. This path leads to spiritual emancipation and enlightenment in addition to serving as a test of faith.
Conclusion
The Char Dham Yatra is still a thriving source of religious devotion and spiritual comfort. The Uttarakhand government has implemented new restrictions with the goal of maintaining the sacredness and respect for these sacred locations. The goal of protecting the religious core and honoring the feelings of every pilgrim is still in place as millions of followers set out on this holy trek.
Contributed by Sanal Pillai
References
- Char Dham Yatra travel update: Pilgrims prohibited from shooting videos, reels within 50m radius of temple premises | Travel – Hindustan Times
- Uttarakhand bans use of mobile phones to shoot reels near Char Dham temples – India Today