State Govt responsible for preserving the religious identity of Haridwar : Uttarakhand CM

Entry of non-Hindus prohibited on Ganga ghats in Haridwar
Uttarakhand Govt begins preparations for Kumbh Parva 2027

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) – Haridwar is a holy city, and it is the responsibility of the Government to preserve its religious identity. The Uttarakhand Government is seriously reviewing the rules regarding entry of non-Hindus into Haridwar and its surrounding areas, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told a news agency in an interview. The Chief Minister further said that the Government is considering all options to ensure that the spiritual image of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand remains intact. The discussion is going on in the backdrop of the preparations for the Kumbh Parva to be held in Haridwar in 2027.

🚩 Haridwar’s Sacred Identity Must Be Protected 🚩

“Safeguarding Haridwar’s religious sanctity is the government’s duty,” says CM Pushkar Singh Dhami.

🚫 Ban on entry of non-Hindus at Ganga river ghats in Haridwar.

🕉️ Uttarakhand govt begins preparations for Kumbh Mela 2027.… pic.twitter.com/kxa8WWx5Jt

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) January 6, 2026

1. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that according to the rules of the Haridwar Municipal Corporation, non-Hindus have been barred from entering the ghats of the Ganga for a long time. This also includes the famous ‘Har ki Pauri’. There are historical examples of such decisions. In the year 1916, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya tried to maintain the natural flow of the Ganga and the sanctity of the pilgrimage site through an agreement with the British administration.

2. It has been proposed to tighten the entry rules at all 105 ghats in the Haridwar to Rishikesh belt. In this regard, the Government is in discussions with the Saint community and Shri Ganga Sabha.

3. Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Kailashanand Giri of Niranjani Akhara expressed his support for this initiative and said that this was a necessary decision.

4. An estimated 40 million devotees visit Haridwar every year, and this number increases during major snan parvas. In recent times, the issue has been further discussed due to the controversy surrounding the presence of non-Hindu tourists at the ghats.