Row over Churdhar yatra tax on as out-of-state devotees protest

The controversy surrounding the recently introduced yatra (pilgrimage) fee for Churdhar has shown no signs of abating, despite several amendments by the Himachal Pradesh Government. Initiated in April this year, the fee collection immediately drew strong opposition from local devotees, prompting the government to exempt residents of Sirmaur, Solan and Shimla districts from the charge. Eventually, the exemption was extended to all pilgrims from Himachal Pradesh.

While this move had temporarily cooled tensions, the issue has now resurfaced with devotees from other states, particularly Uttarakhand, Haryana and Punjab, vehemently opposing the fee collection. On Saturday, a group of devotees from Haryana confronted Forest Department staff at a collection point and flatly refused to pay the fee. The argument escalated, drawing attention to the broader unrest among non-Himachali pilgrims.

Churdhar, home to the revered Shirgul Devta, holds immense religious significance for thousands from the Jaunsar-Bawar, a schedule tribe region of Uttarakhand. It is the second-largest group of pilgrims to Churdhar after local Himachali devotees.

Recently, a group from Tyuni in Uttarakhand staged a protest when they were charged Rs 1,000 for a family of 20 members, sparking outrage. “We are not here on a picnic. We have come for darshan of our deity. Why should we be taxed for our faith?” an aggrieved devotee questioned.

The protesters argue that worship of Lord Shiva and Shirgul Devta is deeply rooted in their cultural and spiritual identity, and imposing a financial barrier violates their religious freedom. “We are not in a position to afford this fee every year. Visiting Churdhar is a matter of devotion, not tourism,” said a devotee from Uttarakhand.

Similar sentiments have been echoed by pilgrims from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, who have also raised concerns over the rationale and fairness of the tax. Many intellectuals and locals from the Churdhar region are also opposing the fee on ethical and religious grounds, arguing that spirituality and devotion should not be taxed.

Kundan Shastri, general secretary of the Central Hatti Committee, criticised the fee, calling it inappropriate for a religious site. He said he has formally lodged a complaint with the Chief Minister’s grievance portal, demanding an official and permanent waiver of the yatra fee for all pilgrims, irrespective of their state of origin.

Bhagmal Nanta, President of the Central Chureshwar Seva Samiti, emphasised that Shirgul Devta is the principal deity of the Jaunsar-Bawar community in Uttarakhand, and a large number of pilgrims from the region travel to Churdhar every year. “The government should respect their faith and completely exempt them from the fee to avoid hurting religious sentiments,” he said.

As the yatra season intensifies, the pressure is mounting on the Himachal Pradesh government to revisit its policy and find a resolution that balances revenue generation with religious sensitivity.