Tuesday, 07 November 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Questions are being raised at the functioning of the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) after photographs of Kathavachak Dhirendra Shastri in the Garbh Grah (sanctum sanctorum) of Kedarnath temple went viral on social media. As per tradition and religious beliefs, the temple committee prohibits photography inside the temple but this regulation is being flouted for ‘VIP devotees’. The Uttarakhand Char Dham Teerth Purohit Mahapanchayat has questioned the functioning of the temple committee citing this latest violation of religious beliefs and regulations. The Mahapanchayat stated that the trend of photographs taken in the Garbh Grah of Kedarnath going viral on social media has continued while the temple committee regularly talks of having prohibited photography in the sanctum sanctorum. Allegations and counter-allegations are being exchanged between the BKTC chairman and its members. Seven members of the committee had also submitted a letter to the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami regarding the working style of the committee chairman in the past. The Mahapanchayat’s media in-charge Rajnikant Semwal said that the functioning of the BKTC is currently under question. The latest picture clicked in the Garbh Grah of Kedarnath temple going viral on social media raises questions at the functioning of the temple committee. Semwal said that the temple committee is behaving differently towards the common devotees and ‘VVIPs’. “There is a lack of coordination between the BKTC chairman and the members of the committee. Seven members of the committee had earlier submitted a letter to the chief minister regarding this but the government has so far not taken any decision on this issue,” said Semwal.
