Overview
- The Gangotri Temple Committee made drinking panchgavya—a mix of milk, curd, ghee, honey, and cow urine—a condition for entry, describing it as a test of faith.
- Committee chair Dharmendra Semwal said the rule aims to keep out non-Sanatani and non-believers, and he reported no objections so far from pilgrims.
- Temple staff plan to serve the mixture at the gate to every entrant, though how it will be enforced at peak crowds is unclear given the four Char Dham shrines logged 5.1 million visits in 2025.
- Medical experts say there is no proven health benefit to cow urine, countering claims pushed by groups aligned with the ruling BJP and by businessman-yoga guru Baba Ramdev.
- The move follows a March order barring non-Hindus from 47 temples run by the Badrinath-Kedarnath committee, while Yamunotri leaders say they will welcome all visitors under an open-door tradition.