Declare Sanatan faith in affidavit: Temple chief on Sara Ali Khan's Badri darshan

The Badri-Kedar Temple Committee has introduced a new rule requiring non-Hindu visitors to submit an affidavit affirming belief in Hinduism to offer prayers at Badrinath and Kedarnath. The directive applies to all non-Hindu devotees, including actor Sara Ali Khan, a frequent visitor to Kedarnath.

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Sara Ali Khan
Kedarnath, Badrinath rule: Actor Sara Ali Khan asked to submit affidavit.

Actor Sara Ali Khan may need to submit an affidavit to continue offering prayers at the revered Kedarnath and Badrinath Temples, following a fresh directive issued by the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, committee chairman Hemant Dwivedi said that all non-Hindu visitors seeking darshan at Kedarnath and Badrinath Temple will now be required to submit an affidavit affirming their belief in Hinduism.

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"Those (non-Hindus) who have faith in Sanatan Dharma—and who provide a written declaration stating, 'I am a Sanatani; I believe in Hindutva'—are all welcome," PTI quoted him saying.

He further clarified that visitors must provide documented proof stating their faith in Hinduism. The rule will apply uniformly to any non-Hindu devotee visiting either temple for prayers.

Referring to Sara Ali Khan’s frequent visits to Kedarnath, Dwivedi said the actor would be permitted to offer prayers if she complies with the new requirement. “If Sara Ali Khan expresses her devotion towards Sanatan Dharma and submits an affidavit, we will allow her to offer prayers,” he said.

Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut on March 18, weighed in on the controversy surrounding fellow actor Sara Ali Khan’s reported visit to the Himalayan shrines, asserting that there should be no hesitation in “stating the truth”.

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Sab sanatani hain... Yahan jo bhi hain sanatani hain... Wo bhi sanatani hai (Everyone is Sanarani, whoever is here is sanatani, they are also sanatani), so why fear in writing down the truth,” Ranaut told reporters outside Parliament on Wednesday.

Watch the video here:

Sara Ali Khan has been a regular visitor to Kedarnath since filming her debut film Kedarnath in the region. Over the years, she has often shared glimpses from the shrine on social media, documenting her spiritual visits to the Himalayan temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Her visits, typically made without official privileges, have drawn attention for their consistency, reflecting a personal spiritual routine.

Her latest visit to the Kedarnath temple:

Read more!

The new directive, however, has sparked wider conversation around access and religious practices at prominent pilgrimage sites, even as the temple committee maintains that the step is intended to preserve tradition.

On the work front, Sara Ali Khan was last seen in Metro...In Dino.

- Ends
Published By:
Anisha Rao
Published On:
Mar 17, 2026 23:49 IST

Actor Sara Ali Khan may need to submit an affidavit to continue offering prayers at the revered Kedarnath and Badrinath Temples, following a fresh directive issued by the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, committee chairman Hemant Dwivedi said that all non-Hindu visitors seeking darshan at Kedarnath and Badrinath Temple will now be required to submit an affidavit affirming their belief in Hinduism.

"Those (non-Hindus) who have faith in Sanatan Dharma—and who provide a written declaration stating, 'I am a Sanatani; I believe in Hindutva'—are all welcome," PTI quoted him saying.

He further clarified that visitors must provide documented proof stating their faith in Hinduism. The rule will apply uniformly to any non-Hindu devotee visiting either temple for prayers.

Referring to Sara Ali Khan’s frequent visits to Kedarnath, Dwivedi said the actor would be permitted to offer prayers if she complies with the new requirement. “If Sara Ali Khan expresses her devotion towards Sanatan Dharma and submits an affidavit, we will allow her to offer prayers,” he said.

Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut on March 18, weighed in on the controversy surrounding fellow actor Sara Ali Khan’s reported visit to the Himalayan shrines, asserting that there should be no hesitation in “stating the truth”.

Sab sanatani hain... Yahan jo bhi hain sanatani hain... Wo bhi sanatani hai (Everyone is Sanarani, whoever is here is sanatani, they are also sanatani), so why fear in writing down the truth,” Ranaut told reporters outside Parliament on Wednesday.

Watch the video here:

Sara Ali Khan has been a regular visitor to Kedarnath since filming her debut film Kedarnath in the region. Over the years, she has often shared glimpses from the shrine on social media, documenting her spiritual visits to the Himalayan temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Her visits, typically made without official privileges, have drawn attention for their consistency, reflecting a personal spiritual routine.

Her latest visit to the Kedarnath temple:

The new directive, however, has sparked wider conversation around access and religious practices at prominent pilgrimage sites, even as the temple committee maintains that the step is intended to preserve tradition.

On the work front, Sara Ali Khan was last seen in Metro...In Dino.

- Ends
Published By:
Anisha Rao
Published On:
Mar 17, 2026 23:49 IST

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