A senior leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called on the Uttarakhand government to impose strict restrictions on the entry of non-Hindus into the Ganga ghats of Haridwar ahead of the 2027 Ardh Kumbh Mela, citing concerns related to security, public safety, and the preservation of the city’s religious sanctity.
The demand was made by Sadhvi Prachi, who said the move was necessary in view of the massive scale of the upcoming religious congregation. The Ardh Kumbh Mela, a major Hindu pilgrimage event that lasts for 45 days, is scheduled to begin on January 14, 2027, coinciding with Makar Sankranti, and will conclude on Maha Shivratri. According to official estimates, the Uttarakhand government expects between six and seven crore devotees to visit Haridwar during the course of the event.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Sadhvi Prachi said that areas associated with the Kumbh Mela, particularly Har-ki-Pauri and surrounding ghats, should be formally designated as an “Amrit Kshetra,” or sacred zone. She argued that once such a status is declared, strict regulations should be enforced, including limiting access to non-Hindus during the pilgrimage period.
She alleged that there have been instances of what she described as “jihadi activities” in or around sacred religious spaces, claiming that such elements could pose a serious threat to large gatherings of pilgrims. According to her, the sheer number of people attending the Kumbh Mela makes it imperative for authorities to exercise heightened caution and adopt extraordinary preventive measures.
Citing a specific example, the VHP leader claimed that she had recently learned of an incident involving women from Delhi who allegedly came to Haridwar and took holy dips in the Ganga with what she described as malicious intent. She said such acts undermine the sanctity of religious rituals and should be prevented through stricter monitoring and controls.
Sadhvi Prachi further urged the state government to enact legal provisions that would bar what she termed “jihadi elements” from entering the Kumbh Mela area altogether. In addition, she called for restrictions on the purchase of land and property by non-Hindus in and around Haridwar, arguing that demographic and ownership changes could have long-term implications for the religious character of the region.
Drawing comparisons with religious restrictions elsewhere, she pointed to the limitations placed on non-Muslims in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. She argued that similar norms could be applied to Haridwar to ensure that Hindu religious practices, rituals, and mass bathing ceremonies are conducted without disruption or fear of security incidents.
She emphasized that Haridwar and the areas governed by the local municipal body are predominantly Hindu, and that festivals, processions, and ritual bathing should be allowed to proceed peacefully, without any untoward incidents that could endanger devotees.
Referring to a car blast near Red Fort in Delhi last year, which resulted in multiple fatalities, Sadhvi Prachi said that such incidents demonstrate the potential risks posed by terror-related activities. She claimed that materials such as ammonium nitrate were used in that attack and warned that, if similar substances were introduced into the Ganga during the Kumbh Mela, the consequences could be catastrophic, given the presence of crores of pilgrims bathing in the river.
The VHP leader also praised Pushkar Singh Dhami, crediting him for taking action against what she described as illegal madarsas, mazaars, and what she termed “shiksha jihad.” She urged the Uttarakhand government to build on these measures and ensure robust administrative, legal, and security arrangements well in advance of the Ardh Kumbh Mela.
Concluding her remarks, Sadhvi Prachi said the state government has both the authority and the capability to declare the Kumbh Mela zone an “Amrit Kshetra” and to strictly enforce such regulations. She maintained that, in her view, these steps would be taken in the larger interest of pilgrim safety and the protection of the religious and cultural significance of Haridwar.
