Bharatiya Janta Party stalwart Murli Manohar Joshi has criticised the organisation of a cultural festival in Uttarakhand's Badrinath, that featured music events, saying such programmes violate the cultural decorum of the holy shrine.
Former Union minister Murli Manohar Joshi (ANI File Photo)
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
Joshi urged the Centre and the Uttarakhand government to ban such events and uphold the sanctity of "Devbhoomi".
According to media reports, a two-day Devbhoomi Cultural Festival was organised in Badrinath town in Chamoli district on the theme "Culture is Our Heritage, Our Future".
In a post in Hindi on X, Joshi said: "Granting permission for a music concert, a DJ event at Badrinath Dham is not only a violation of cultural decorum but also a direct assault on the sanctity of the holy shrine."
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
The former BJP president said Adi Guru Shankaracharya had established Badrinath Dham amid the Himalayan environment for the peaceful singing of hymns and devotion to the divine.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
The former BJP president said Adi Guru Shankaracharya had established Badrinath Dham amid the Himalayan environment for the peaceful singing of hymns and devotion to the divine.
{{/usCountry}}
"It is noteworthy that even blowing a conch shell is prohibited at this location; yet, disregarding this, we organise loud musical events, blatantly disregarding Indian spiritual, cultural and environmental values, while also ignoring the adverse health effects caused by thousands of people dancing at such high altitudes," he said.
'Baazaru sanskriti' taking root in Devbhoomi
Joshi said such events indicated that a "baazaru sanskriti" (a culture driven by commercialism) was taking root in "Devbhoomi".
He called on the Centre and the Uttarakhand government to take steps to preserve the sanctity of the region and ban such events.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
The veteran BJP leader also appealed to followers of Indian culture, particularly shankaracharyas and mahatmas, to raise an "effective voice" against what he described as the "erosion of culture".
"The Himalayas are divine, the abode of Lord Shankar and the source of Mother Ganga. Turning them into a hub of nightlife and revelry deals a severe blow to the faith of millions of Indians," he said.
Priyanshu Priya is a journalist with nearly three years of newsroom experience, driven by a deep belief that stories, when told right, can shape conversations and hold power to account. Currently working as a Senior Content Producer with Hindustan Times, she writes on a wide spectrum of issues, from Indian politics and Delhi’s public concerns to global trade tensions and high-stakes crime stories. Priya joined HT at a pivotal moment, as Operation Sindoor was unfolding, and has since covered some of the most defining developments in recent times. Her reporting spans the Air India plane crash and the Pahalgam terror attack to India–US trade tensions, unrest in the Middle East, and key Assembly elections across states. She thrives in the fast-paced world of breaking news. In 2025–26, she was recognised with the Hindustan Times Digi Journo of the Q3 Award for driving over 4 million page views in a single month. A postgraduate in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and a Mass Communication graduate from Patna Women’s College, Priya began her news career with the Zee News English team, where she extensively covered the Lok Sabha Election 2024, along with the Delhi and Maharashtra Assembly elections. When she’s not tracking or writing the next big development, she unwinds by watching series and films, reading books with strong female protagonists, and revisiting comfort shows for the familiar ease they bring when life feels a little too jittery.
Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather major national developments and Karnataka Bandh LIVE.
Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather major national developments and Karnataka Bandh LIVE.
