Haridwar, Jan 5: The Shri Ganga Sabha on Sunday demanded that the Kumbh Mela area in Haridwar be declared a restricted zone for non-Hindus ahead of the Ardh Kumbh scheduled to be held in 2027.
Addressing reporters here, Shri Ganga Sabha president Nitin Gautam said the entry of non-Hindus should be banned at all Ganga ghats and religious places falling within the Kumbh Mela area to preserve the sanctity of the pilgrimage site.
The Shri Ganga Sabha is responsible for the management and upkeep of Har Ki Pauri and the surrounding Ganga ghats in Haridwar.
Gautam welcomed the Uttarakhand government’s announcement of organising a grand and divine Kumbh Mela in Haridwar and said strict measures were needed to maintain the religious character of the town during the mega event.
Citing municipal rules, he said the Haridwar municipal area has been declared a non-Hindu, meat- and alcohol-prohibited zone and urged the government to ensure full compliance with these regulations.
He also alleged that some non-Hindus were residing in areas such as Bairagi Camp and other parts of Haridwar by concealing their identity. Gautam called on the government to identify such individuals and remove them from the pilgrimage town to safeguard its religious sanctity.
The Ardh Kumbh Mela is scheduled to be held in Haridwar in 2027 and is expected to draw millions of devotees from across the country.
