May 2024: Authorities in Uttarakhand (India) have urged police to take stringent action against filming and photography within 50 metres of the Himalayan Char Dham Temples (Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamnotri & Gangotri). Located in isolated spots, these mountain temples remain inaccessible during winter and close around Diwali and re-open in May. The harsh terrain meant only the most dedicated would visit these temples which are regarded as places of silent contemplation and inward reflection. In recent years however, these Himalayan temples have witnessed record footfall.
Not all these visitors are sincere pilgrims. The temples are now popular with content creators, who have been drawing anger from locals and genuine devotees for shooting loud and disruptive social media reels. This May, a video emerged on X (formerly Twitter), where a frustrated temple priest outside Kedarnath temple prevented a group attempting to play loud tasha-dhol drums for a reel. The priest’s actions in the viral clip drew support from the public and within days, the state government issued its orders for a ban on filming.
Kedarnath is one of several pilgrim sites in India that have recently been focus of re-developed by the Indian Government; projects that divide opinion. Though improvements to pilgrim safety and cleanliness are welcomed, many devote Hindus feel the sacred sites are being overdeveloped and commercialised to attract tourists whose needs are often at odds with those of pilgrims. In addition to perceived damage to the spiritual ambience of these sites, increased human activity is having an adverse environmental impact on shrines such as Kedarnath, which are located in sensitive geographies.