Cultural fest near Badrinath shrine faces backlash over ‘Bhajan jamming’, violation of norms
The festival, organised around the theme ‘Our Heritage, Our Future’, was held on September 19 and 20 at the Tourist Arrival Plaza adjoining the Badrinath temple; Chamoli district administration, Uttarakhand Tourism Department attributed the organisation of the event to the Indian Army
A controversial two-day cultural festival in Badrinath, held at an altitude of over 10,200 feet in September, has triggered backlash from religious leaders and stakeholders. The event, organized by the Indian Army and part of Operation Sadbhavana, featured a loud "Bhajan Jamming" with pulsing lights and amplified music, drawing criticism from Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath and the Uttarakhand Teerth Purohits Samiti.
The Chamoli district administration and the Uttarakhand Tourism Department attributed the organization to the Indian Army, despite the priest community's opposition. Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath, condemned the use of loud DJ music and vulgar performances near Lord Vishnu's abode, citing strict norms of peace and restraint.
Brijesh Sati, general secretary of the Uttarakhand Teerth Purohits Samiti, expressed concerns about the Army's authorization process, while Congress spokesperson Garima Dasauni questioned the government's line between tourism promotion and commercialization. The district administration admitted to permitting a stall as part of the fair but denied knowledge of the DJ performance.
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