A fresh controversy has erupted ahead of the Char Dham Yatra 2026, after the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) announced that all non-Hindu visitors wishing to enter the temple complexes of Kedarnath and Badrinath must submit a formal affidavit declaring their faith in Sanatan Dharma and specifically named Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan as an example in this context.
Speaking at a press conference in Dehradun on Tuesday, March 17, BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi laid out the committee’s new directive. “Those non-Hindus who have faith in Sanatan Dharma and who provide a written declaration stating, ‘I am a Sanatani; I believe in Hindutva’ are all welcome,” he said. When reporters asked specifically about Sara Ali Khan, who has made repeated visits to Kedarnath since her 2018 debut film of the same name, Dwivedi was direct: “If Sara Ali Khan affirms that she holds faith and devotion towards Sanatan, and subsequently submits an affidavit to that effect, she will be granted darshan.”
The BKTC has already prepared a standardised format for the affidavit. The broader policy underlying this directive was passed at a board meeting of the committee on March 10, when a proposal to prohibit the entry of non-Sanatanis into the temple complexes and garbhagrihas (sanctum sanctorums) of Badrinath and Kedarnath was unanimously approved. The proposal has since been forwarded to the Uttarakhand government for further consideration and potential enforcement. The directive applies to all 47 temples under the BKTC’s jurisdiction.
Sara Ali Khan, who was born to actor Saif Ali Khan, a Muslim and actress Amrita Singh, who practices Hinduism, has spoken openly and frequently about her spiritual connection to Kedarnath. She first visited the shrine during the filming of her debut feature in 2017 and has returned multiple times since, regularly sharing images from her visits on social media. The actress has not publicly responded to the BKTC’s directive as of the time of publication.
BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut weighed in on the controversy outside Parliament on Wednesday, backing the committee’s position. “Why fear in writing down the truth,” she told reporters. Her remarks drew a mixed response online, with several social media users pointing out the apparent paradox if everyone is Sanatani by Kangana’s logic, they asked, why demand a formal written proof of faith at all?
The decision has reignited a broader national conversation about the right to religious access, individual faith, and the authority of temple management bodies to set conditions for entry. Supporters of the move argue it is necessary to preserve the sanctity and spiritual character of these ancient shrines, pointing to the long-standing precedent set by institutions like the Jagannath Temple in Puri, which restricts entry to Hindus. Critics, however, argue that demanding a signed declaration of religious belief from a private individual before allowing entry is an intrusive and divisive requirement particularly for someone like Sara Ali Khan, whose personal devotion to the shrine has been publicly documented over many years.
The 2026 Char Dham Yatra is set to begin on April 19, coinciding with Akshaya Tritiya. Gangotri and Yamunotri temples will open the same day, followed by Kedarnath on April 22 and Badrinath on April 23. Over six lakh devotees have already registered for the pilgrimage within just ten days, as of March 16.
-Samuthiran
