Boards have been installed at various locations at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar clearly stating that entry of non-Hindus is completely prohibited. Keeping the sanctity of the pilgrimage site in mind, flying drones in the Har Ki Pauri and Malviya Island areas has also been banned.
Making videos or reels on any kind of film songs in these areas has been declared strictly prohibited. Shri Ganga Sabha has warned of legal action if such reels or videos are made and circulated on social media. A few days ago, a video shot at Har Ki Pauri went viral on social media, triggering controversy.
In the viral video, two youths were seen roaming around the ghats wearing Arabic attire and claiming to be residents of Dubai. After the video surfaced, pilgrimage priests expressed strong resentment, stating that such acts hurt religious sentiments and can disturb the atmosphere of the holy city. Following the outrage, the police took cognisance of the matter and initiated an investigation.
Priests said that portraying Har Ki Pauri in such a manner violates the religious dignity of Haridwar. They maintained that the ghats are sacred places and should not be used for creating sensational or misleading social media content.
Also Read This – Dolphin Ambulance Launched With X-Ray, ECG to Strengthen Rescue Operations
At present, Shri Ganga Sabha is actively deliberating on arrangements and preservation of religious decorum at Haridwar’s ghats and major pilgrimage sites. Shri Ganga Sabha General Secretary Tanmay Vashisht said the matter has been brought to the notice of the police administration, alleging that such acts are being done deliberately to disturb communal harmony. Secretary Ujjwal Pandit stated that the entire issue has been reported to the local police outpost. City Kotwali in-charge Ritesh Shah confirmed that an investigation has begun and efforts are underway to identify the youths involved.
