A video of a woman proposing to her boyfriend near Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand is going around on media and has gone viral. This video has sparked an online debate about whether making reels inside the temple premises is correct, as it may hurt the sentiments of fellow devotees. This viral video has made the Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee write to the police and ask them to keep a strict eye out for anyone filming on the temple premises because it offends pilgrims in the country and abroad.
The temple’s priests have voiced concerns about the production of such recordings, claiming that they “negatively impacted the religious sanctity of the place”.
The Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee wrote to the police stating that, “Some YouTubers, Instagram Influencers are making videos, YouTube shots and Instagram reels against the religious sentiments of people, because of which the feelings of devotees visiting the temple, along with many around the country and aboard are hurt”.
The executive officer of the temple committee, Ramesh Chandra Tiwari, has requested that the police keep an eye on those who post YouTube clips and reels that go against religious sentiments.
Twitter user Ravisutanjani shares the viral video. In the caption, he wrote, “One of the Reasons why Smartphones should be Banned from All Leading Temples & Shrines. Just a Basic Phone within 20 KMs from the Main Temple, Eliminates Unnecessary Crowd. PS – I’m writing this from Kedarnath”.
One of the Reasons why Smartphones should be Banned from All Leading Temples & Shrines
Just a Basic Phone within 20 KMs from the Main Temple, Eliminates Unnecessary Crowd
PS – I’m writing this from Kedarnath 🛕
— Ravisutanjani (@Ravisutanjani) July 1, 2023
In the viral video, the couple were seen wearing matching yellow ethnic clothing. It’s was seen that the female was walking with her partner nearby the Kedarnath temple. Later, she gets down on one knee and proposes to her partner. As the clip goes on, she presents her boyfriend with a ring. Her proposal startled some nearby pedestrians, and several of them videotaped it on their phones.
This video has sparked an online debate about the validity of the act. Some users commented that there is nothing wrong in expressing one’s love but pointed out that religious places are not the right place to do such actions as it affects the sanctity of the place.
Mandirs are abodes of Bhagwan Shri and spiritual places.These are not parks or tourist places. Such acts & Phones must be banned at all such places. There should be no such sacrileges or Beadbi. Why are Hindus not respecting their own Dharma? Degradation of the value system. https://t.co/yIyL7A3yLR
— Anindpat55 (@anindpat55) July 2, 2023
Man agreed with you..smartphone should be banned inside temples & even in temple premises if it’s leading temple karn har jagah se har tarah ke log ate hai aur unki apni astha hoti aur shradha hoti hai, aur kisi bhi hal me unki astha ko thesh nahi phochni chahiye.
— रुद्रा (@RRanaji77) July 1, 2023
Last year in May, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against an unknown person in connection with a man taking a dog inside the temple premises and offering prayers by making the dog touch the idol of Bhagwan Nandi.
While talking to the media, Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police (SP) Ayush Aggarwal said that the police investigation is on into the matter.
“On the complaint of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, the police are trying to trace the person who was roaming around the temple premises with a dog and who also touched the idol of Lord Nandi with the dog,” said Aggarwal. He said that after identification of the person, further action will be taken.
The Temple Committee President Ajendra Ajay took cognizance of a video running on social media. In the video, a man is seen walking with a dog in the outer premises of the temple and is worshipping the idol of Bhagwan Nandi outside the temple by grabbing the front paws of the dog and making it touch the statue of ‘Nandi’.
According to the temple committee Media Cell, “In relation to this video hurting religious sentiments, temple committee president Ajendra had issued instructions/orders to the chief executive officer of the temple committee that such unwanted activities should be stopped and legal action should be taken against those who commit such acts”.
The Chief Executive Officer has given a complaint to the police station outpost in Kedarnath and has also expected to take legal action against the guilty and stop unwanted activities so that such incidents do not recur.
