A significant controversy has erupted in Uttarakhand as Muslim MLAs were invited to the Deepotsav event in Haridwar on November 11, drawing intense scrutiny and backlash. The event, set to take place at the holy site of Har Ki Pauri, is traditionally considered exclusive, with restrictions placed on the entry of non-Hindus. This longstanding rule has been challenged following the decision of the Haridwar district administration to extend invitations to Muslim representatives, raising pressing questions about the boundaries of such a sacred event. In response to the escalating tensions, authorities quickly retracted the invitation after a surge of objections from Hindu rights organizations such as Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

The Deepotsav celebration is scheduled for Monday evening at Har Ki Pauri and is part of a broader Silver Jubilee Festival, commemorating 25 years of the statehood of Uttarakhand. This event aims to bring the people of Haridwar together, with residents encouraged to light traditional lamps or diyas to mark the occasion. The celebrations include an ambitious plan to illuminate the area with three lakh diyas, creating a breathtaking display to honor the milestone anniversary. Additionally, a bhajan evening has been planned, featuring devotional music to further enhance the spiritual ambiance. Among the prominent guests invited to the event is State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, emphasizing the significance of the celebration.

Amid these arrangements, the Haridwar district administration extended invitations to several MLAs, including notable figures such as Congress MLA from Piran Kaliyar, Furqan Ahmed, BSP MLA from Laksar, Mohammad Shahzad, and Congress MLA from Mangalore, Qazi Nizamuddin.

The Shri Ganga Sabha, the organization responsible for conducting Ganga Aarti and other religious ceremonies at Har Ki Pauri, has voiced strong objections to the recent invitation extended to three Muslim MLAs for the upcoming Deepotsav event. The Sabha has made it clear that, as per its regulations, non-Hindus are not permitted to visit Har Ki Pauri, making the administration’s invitation to Muslim MLAs appear, in their view, inappropriate and contrary to the rules established at this revered site.

According to the Sabha, inviting these Muslim MLAs represents “an insult to the laws” and is something the organization says “would not be tolerated.” The Sabha also remarked that the district administration appears “unaware of the Har Ki Pauri rules,” which have been in place for over 100 years. The restriction on non-Hindus at Har Ki Pauri has been consistently upheld for more than a century, rooted in a tradition that the Sabha feels should be respected by all.

A Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader echoed this sentiment, stating that non-Hindus are barred from entering Har Ki Pauri and other ghats in Haridwar. This restriction, which dates back a century, was reportedly put in place by Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, who, following an agreement with the British authorities, helped formalize this rule through a Municipal Corporation bylaw.

The historical precedent was set in such a way that even non-Hindu dignitaries, such as former Muslim Governor Aziz Qureshi and Christian Margaret Alva, participated in earlier events from alternative locations outside Har Ki Pauri. This rule, reportedly established in 1916 by Madan Mohan Malviya, was inspired by arrangements he reached with British authorities when establishing the Aarti at Har Ki Pauri.

In response to the backlash from Hindu advocacy groups, the District Magistrate of Haridwar has since imposed a restriction on non-Hindus attending ceremonies at Har Ki Pauri. This move was met with strong support from Hindu rights groups like Bajrang Dal and the VHP, who hailed it as a significant victory.