Signs declaring parts of Haridwar’s Kumbh Mela precinct a “Non-Hindu prohibited area” appeared at multiple entry points to Har Ki Pauri on Friday, intensifying a debate over access, legality and religious administration at one of the country’s most visited pilgrimage sites. The boards were installed along bridge railings, pillars and approach routes by the Ganga Sabha, the body that manages and maintains the ghat complex and adjoining stretches of the riverfront.Officials associated with the Ganga Sabha said the signage reflects long-standing rules governing the core bathing area and surrounding ghats. They pointed to provisions under the Haridwar Municipal Act of 1916, which restrict entry for non-Hindus at specified religious locations within the town, including the principal bathing ghat at Har Ki Pauri. According to the organisation, the boards are intended to clarify existing norms rather than introduce new exclusions.
The move follows demands from sections of religious groups to declare the wider Kumbh area in Uttarakhand a Hindu zone and to extend access restrictions to all religious places and Ganga ghats within that perimeter. While the signs do not announce a blanket ban across the city, their placement at prominent access points has drawn public attention and prompted questions about scope, enforcement and constitutional safeguards.
Local administrators acknowledged that restrictions at Har Ki Pauri are not new, but said any signage must align strictly with the law and with directions issued by civic authorities. Senior officials indicated that the municipal administration has sought a report on the placement of the boards, including whether they exceed the boundaries set out in the 1916 Act or conflict with later regulations and court rulings governing public spaces, crowd management and non-discriminatory access.
Legal experts note that the Act was framed in a colonial-era context and applies narrowly to specified religious precincts, not to the entire town. They argue that while managing religious rites and maintaining sanctity at a core ghat may be permissible, extending restrictions beyond the clearly notified area could invite judicial scrutiny. Any enforcement, they add, must be proportionate, clearly demarcated and consistent with constitutional guarantees on equality and freedom of movement.
Residents and shopkeepers around Har Ki Pauri reported mixed reactions. Some welcomed clearer signposting, saying it reduces confusion during peak pilgrimage periods and aligns with traditional practices observed at the ghat. Others expressed concern that broad messaging could deter visitors, fuel misunderstanding and affect livelihoods dependent on tourism, especially outside major bathing days.
Civil society groups have urged authorities to ensure that signage does not stigmatise or encourage vigilantism. They emphasised that crowd control and ritual management can be achieved through administrative orders and stewarding without resorting to language that may be perceived as exclusionary. A few groups said they are considering representations to the district administration seeking clarification on the legal basis and geographic limits of the restriction.
The Ganga Sabha, for its part, maintained that the organisation’s mandate includes preserving religious customs at Har Ki Pauri and coordinating with civic agencies during large congregations. Members said the boards were installed after internal consultations and reflect practices followed for decades, particularly during auspicious bathing days when access is regulated more tightly.