By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
A controversy is brewing in Badrinath Dham after senior BJP leader and former Union minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi criticised the permission granted for a loud music concert in the shrine area, describing it as a violation of the cultural and religious traditions of the shrine.
“Granting permission for a music concert (DJ concert) in Badrinath Dham is not only a violation of cultural decorum but also a direct assault on the sanctity of the shrine,” Joshi wrote on X.
After Joshi’s tweet on X, the music and dance programme which was held at Badrinath Dham last week, triggered strong protests in Uttarakhand, prompting the Chamoli district administration to issue a show-cause notice to the local Army unit, Garhwal Scouts.
Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar, in a notice to the Commanding Officer of the Garhwal Scouts, said that holding such a gathering at Badrinath Dham and using high-volume sound was contrary to the dignity of the shrine. He said it could adversely affect the daily worship rituals, cause resentment among religious scholars and also affect the image of the local administration saying such concerts are banned in the area.
The district administration also questioned the rationale for the event and sought to know whether permission had been obtained from the competent authority for holding the cultural programme at Badrinath and why high-volume sound was used.
The Army declined to comment on the matter.
The ‘Devbhoomi Cultural Festival-2026’ was held at Badrinath on September 19 and 20. Its stated objectives included promoting Uttarakhand’s cultural heritage and folk traditions, providing markets for local products from border areas, and promoting entrepreneurship and tourism to make women and youth self-reliant. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the concluding ceremony as the chief guest.
However, the Uttarakhand Char Dham Teerth Purohit Mahapanchayat alleged that instead of being confined to the stated objectives, the festival featured dance, music and loud programmes that were contrary to the religious traditions and beliefs associated with Badrinath.
Dr Brijesh Sati, general secretary of the Mahapanchayat, said the priests’ opposition was not to the cultural festival itself but to its format and presentation.
“Our objection is not to holding a cultural festival but to its format and presentation. Programmes here should be organised in accordance with the religious and mythological traditions of Badrinath,” he said.