Shri Ganga Sabha, which manages Har Ki Pauri and nearby Ganga ghats in Haridwar, on Sunday (January 4, 2026) demanded the Uttarakhand government declare the Kumbh Mela area a restricted zone for non-Hindus ahead of the Ardh Kumbh in 2027. Shri Ganga Sabha president Nitin Gautam told reporters, "It is the need of the hour that before the upcoming Kumbh, the entry of non-Hindus should be banned at all Ganga ghats and religious places in the Kumbh Mela area." He praised the government’s plan for a divine and grand Kumbh next year. He added, "According to the municipal rules, the Haridwar municipal area is declared a non-Hindu and meat-alcohol prohibited zone, and the government should ensure complete compliance with these rules so that the sanctity of the pilgrimage site is maintained." Mr. Gautam also claimed that some non-Hindus are living in Bairagi Camp and other places in Haridwar by hiding their identity. He demanded the government identify and remove them from Haridwar.