Daijiworld Media Network - Dehradun

Dehradun, Mar 18: Actor Sara Ali Khan may be required to submit an affidavit affirming her faith to visit the Kedarnath Temple and Badrinath Temple, following a new proposal by the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC).

BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi said that non-Hindus wishing to enter the temple complexes must provide a written declaration stating their faith in Sanatan Dharma. The proposal, approved on March 10, seeks to restrict entry of non-Sanatanis unless they submit such an affidavit.

Referring specifically to Sara, Dwivedi said she would be allowed darshan if she affirms her faith and submits the required declaration. Sara, daughter of actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, has frequently visited Kedarnath and Badrinath temples in the past.

The committee has standardised a format for the affidavit and forwarded the proposal to the Uttarakhand government for consideration. The move comes ahead of the upcoming Char Dham Yatra, scheduled to begin on April 19. The Kedarnath temple will open on April 22, followed by Badrinath on April 23, with over six lakh devotees already registered.

Sara has not yet responded to the development. Speaking earlier at a public event, she had described her visits to Kedarnath as a deeply personal and peaceful experience, beyond religious identity.

Similar restrictions exist at other temples, including the Jagannath Temple in Odisha, which permits entry only to Hindus. In a recent instance, Pawan Kalyan’s daughter had also signed a declaration of faith before visiting the Tirupati temple.