Should Devotion Be Filmed? Kedarnath Viral DJ Video Controversy Shakes Social Media
As religious sentiment clashes with content creation, Uttarakhand authorities respond to the viral video that disrespected one of India’s holiest pilgrimage sites.
A clip of a bunch of tourists dancing and celebrating to the beat of loud DJ music inside the Kedarnath temple complex has gone viral on social media, leading to outrage across the country and prompting prompt action from local authorities. The Rudraprayag district administration and police have opened an inquiry into the incident and have filed a case against the people responsible for disrupting the sanctity of the sacred place.
The video that shows tourists participating in boisterous celebrations, dance, and yelling inside the temple campus is said to have been taken prior to the official opening of the Kedarnath temple gates on May 2. Kedarnath is one of the four holy temples of the Char Dham Yatra, the others being Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The temple remains open once a year to pilgrims and is of significant religious importance to Hindus.
Serious about the issue, the official of Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) Girish Dewali lodged a complaint at Sonprayag police station. On the basis of this complaint, police have lodged an FIR under various legal sections for breaching the spiritual decorum of the place.
As per police sources, attempts are being made to identify the people involved in the incident through social media surveillance. “Those guilty will be dealt with as per law,” a top official stated. In order to avoid such incidents in the future, more police personnel have been deployed along the route of Char Dham Yatra.
The authorities have also urged the public not to share or forward the viral video, highlighting that it diminishes the spiritual significance of Kedarnath Dham. They have particularly appealed to the youth and content creators to avoid using sacred places for creating social media content.
In an added attempt to preserve the religious sanctity of such shrines, the BKTC has introduced a mobile phone ban in the areas of both the Kedarnath and Badrinath temples. Tourists found recording videos or taking social media reels will be fined ₹5,000, and their mobile phones might also be taken away.
Special vigilance is being kept on YouTubers and social media influencers who generally make content during the pilgrimage. BKTC CEO Vijay Thapliyal said that after imposing mobile restrictions in Badrinath, similar strict measures have now been put in place in Kedarnath to maintain the sanctity and austerity of these holy places.
This event is a reminder of ensuring a balance between religious devotion and responsible tourism during the Char Dham Yatra.
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