Murli Manohar Joshi, the former BJP president, did not mince words on Friday. In a Hindi post on X, he labeled the recent music and DJ event at Badrinath Dham a "direct assault on the sanctity" of the holy shrine. The veteran leader’s intervention lands with significant weight, coming days after the Jyotirmath Shankaracharya and the Congress party voiced similar objections. It is a sharp rebuke from one of the party's senior-most voices to a program organized by the very institution that claims to protect national values.
The controversy centers on the two-day Devbhoomi Cultural Festival, held on September 19 and 20 at the Tourist Arrival Plaza in Chamoli district. The Indian Army organized the event alongside the district administration under Operation Sadbhavana, its civic outreach program in border areas. While billed as a showcase for folk music, dance, and local crafts, videos of loud stage performances and dancing quickly spread on social media, igniting the row. The juxtaposition is stark: a place where even blowing a conch shell is prohibited is now hosting a DJ.
Joshi drew a line between spiritual devotion and what he called "baazaru sanskriti," or market-driven culture. He reminded followers that Adi Guru Shankaracharya established Badrinath amid the Himalayas for peaceful devotion and hymn singing. "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," he wrote. He also highlighted the adverse health effects of thousands of people dancing at an altitude above 10,000 feet.
The veteran leader appealed to the Centre and the state government to protect the region's sanctity by banning such events. He further urged shankaracharyas and seers to raise an "effective voice" against what he described as the erosion of culture in Devbhoomi. "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," Joshi stated.
The question now looms large as the Char Dham season reaches its peak: will the authorities move to restrict amplifiers near the shrine? The pressure is mounting from multiple quarters, including religious heads and political opposition. A decision on the future of cultural events at Badrinath is expected shortly, with the Army and state administration likely to review their protocols for high-altitude gatherings.