'I'm just another Sara Ali Khan': Travel vlogger reacts to restrictions on non-Hindus entering Kedarnath

“I’m just another Sara Ali Khan who likes to visit the temples of Uttarakhand,” said travel vlogger Aafreen as she expressed her disappointment over the Shri Gangotri Temple Committee’s recent decision to bar entry to non-Hindus.

Aafreen, who said she has been visiting Kedarnath, a prominent Hindu pilgrimage site, regularly since 2024, said she was “heartbroken” and unsure if she would ever be able to return to the Himalayan shrine.

“I visited Kedarnath in 2024 and 2025 because I really love the place and I really love the energy, the atmosphere, the people here,” she said.

She remembered her trips to Kedarnath

Aafreen said she completed the 22-kilometer trek to the shrine and was among a large number of pilgrims, whom she described as “sweet and welcoming.”

“That’s the quality I really liked about Uttarakhand,” she said.

Reflecting on her previous visits, the vlogger said she spent hours waiting for darshan and completed the pilgrimage despite challenges. She recalled visiting the shrine twice in 2024 and returning in 2025, describing the experience as deeply meaningful.

She said she had hoped to visit Kedarnath again in 2026, but now believes that will no longer be possible. While expressing her disappointment, she added that she respects the decision and understands the concerns behind it.

Memories of Kedarnath and hopes of a return

The vlogger also talked about the 2013 Kedarnath floods and the story of the Bhim Shila rock, which is believed to have protected the temple during the disaster. Hearing such stories and meeting other pilgrims along the route, she said, strengthened her determination to complete the trek.

“I really miss Kedarnath, I really miss this place,” she said, adding, “I hope to come back sometime if the situation is right.”

She added to her post: “I hope my reel doesn’t hurt anyone.”

The decision of the temple committee

Non-Hindus were banned from entering 47 temples, including prominent shrines such as Badrinath and Kedarnath, following a decision by the temple committee in March.

“Badrinath and Kedarnath are not tourist spots but centers of faith. They are Vedic centers established by Adi Shankaracharya. Article 26 of the Indian Constitution gives every religious denomination the right to manage its own religious affairs,” committee president Hemant Dwivedi said.

What was said about Sara Ali Khan?

When Dwivedi was specifically asked about Sara Ali Khan, who has visited the shrine several times and also acted in the film Kedarnath, at a press conference on 11 March, Dwivedi remarked, “If Sara Ali Khan affirms that she has faith and devotion towards Sanatan and subsequently submits an affidavit to that effect, she will be granted darshan.”

He added that the Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has already suggested a standardized format for such an affidavit.