Predictably, the decision of Uttarakhand Government to set up a Chardham Shrine Board to manage the affairs of 51 temples including the famous four:- Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri is facing resistance from the Teerth Purohits or those who have been running the affairs of these temples up until now.
This backlash comes in the wake of the approval for Uttarakhand Chardham Shrine Board Bill-2019. Cries of ‘This black law is going to destroy ancient cultural values and ethos,’ resound in the winter’s chill. You can rest assured that there will be the usual: ‘If the government does not change its decision, it will be opposed vehemently.’
Suresh Semwal, President of the Gangotri Temple Committee, says: ‘We oppose the Cabinet approval for the formation of Chardham Shrine Board on the lines of Vaishnodevi Mata Temple and Tirupati Balaji Temple Shrine Board.” He claimed that the State Government misled the tirtha priests and the real intention was to deal a body blow to the priests and Sanatan culture. Alleging, “The government has not given a single rupee for the Gangotri Yamunotri Dham since the 2013 deluge. Passing such a sanction without taking into trust the Panda society at large, will not be tolerated.”
Yamunotri Temple Committee Secretary Kriteshwar Uniyal added, “This decision will render eight thousand families homeless, while destroying culture and faith.”
Krishna Kant Kotiyal, President of Devbhoomi Tirtha, alleged that Government should have held consultations with the Teerth Purohits on the issue. Ignoring them and taking a unilateral decision is an insult to the Panda society, “We will strongly oppose this move.”
As for the man-on-the-road or the ordinary pilgrim, opinions taken across a wide spectrum reveal there is the general feeling that the move will put an end to the gradual commercialization and of those who have thus far had a monopoly on the running shrines – both big and small – in Devbhoomi.
If and when the Chardham Shrine Board is put in place, 51 temples including Gangotri, Yamnotri, Badrinath, Kedarnath will come under the single umbrella of the Chardham Development Board. To get an idea of how well it has worked, a visit to Vaishno Devi and Tirupati Balaji temples is highly recommended.
