By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Rudraprayag, 12 May: Serious questions are once again being raised over the arrangements at the revered Kedarnath Dham, particularly regarding alleged VIP darshan facilities during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra. While thousands of ordinary devotees continue to have to wait for hours in long queues amid snow, rain and biting cold for the darshan of Baba Kedar, several pilgrims have now alleged that preferential treatment is being given to those willing to pay money for quicker access to the shrine.
A pilgrim from Delhi, Anita Khosla, has alleged that devotees are being charged Rs 2,500 for VIP darshan at Kedarnath Dham. According to her, she was initially asked to pay Rs 3,000, but was later told that darshan for six persons could be arranged for Rs 2,500. She alleged that certain people, in collusion with members associated with the temple management system, were running this arrangement inside the shrine area. The woman claimed that despite paying money, they still had to wait for nearly three to four hours before getting darshan.
Anita Khosla further stated that long queues of devotees could be seen outside the VIP gate of the Kedarnath temple, with many pilgrims standing in line from as early as 3 a.m. and finally getting darshan only by around 3 p.m. She alleged that ordinary devotees are being made to pass through multiple stages of queues and security checks, while those falling under the VIP category were being granted direct access within a very short time. According to her, anyone willing to pay money is being facilitated for quicker darshan.
The allegations have once again intensified the debate over equal access for devotees at one of the country’s most revered pilgrimage centres. The maximum hardship, according to pilgrims, is being faced by elderly devotees, women and those arriving from distant states. Long waiting hours, freezing winds, intermittent rainfall and the harsh conditions of the high-altitude region are making the pilgrimage increasingly difficult for ordinary travellers, many of whom are now openly questioning the management arrangements.
When questioned regarding the allegations, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said that the matter would be investigated. He stated that, if such practices are indeed taking place, appropriate action would be initiated after inquiry.
The controversy has gained significance because before the beginning of the Char Dham Yatra this year, officials associated with the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) had maintained that only a limited category of people falling under special protocol arrangements would be permitted VIP darshan facilities. However, as the yatra progressed, discussions surrounding the so-called “Rs 2,500 slip” have now become a major talking point among pilgrims visiting the shrine.
In recent days, even teerth purohits and pilgrims at Kedarnath Dham had voiced opposition to the alleged VIP darshan system. Voices of protest and resentment had grown louder within the temple premises and surrounding areas, but despite the criticism, no major visible change in the arrangements has so far been witnessed.
The issue has now triggered a wider debate among devotees over whether distinctions between “ordinary” and “special” pilgrims should exist at major religious shrines. Questions are increasingly being raised over whether faith too is now being divided into categories based on money and influence. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen what action the authorities take in respect of such complaints and if this issue is really resolved early.
Meanwhile, the influx of the pilgrims coming to Kedarnth is so huge that Sonprayag, the last base camp for Kedarnath before beginning the Yatra is jam packed with devotees. Jams are being reported every single day since 10 April and today was the third day when Sonprayag was completely packed with pilgrims left with almost no space to even walk comfortably or safely.
It may also be recalled that, each year, the government promises to restrict the number of pilgrims for the Kedarnath and other Char Dham shrines but later caves under pressure from stakeholders and removes the cap on number of pilgrims permitted to visit the dhams per day. As a result, many activists are now again raising questions on carrying capacity of the Char Dham shrines.
