In a significant interim relief to the Shri Ganga Sabha amid an ongoing dispute over the Triveni Ghat Ganga aarti, the Uttarakhand High Court on Friday permitted the organisation to continue conducting the revered ritual, subject to stringent conditions. The municipal order restraining the Sabha from performing the aarti has been stayed until the next hearing on March 25.
The case arose after the Rishikesh Municipal Corporation passed a resolution and issued an order barring Shri Ganga Sabha from conducting the daily Ganga aarti. The civic body claimed the Sabha’s registration had lapsed, and that it no longer had the legal authority to manage or conduct the religious ritual.
Further, the corporation levelled allegations of commercial exploitation, including charging fees from devotees and collecting money from local vendors. Concerns about littering and improper disposal of puja materials were also raised.
Challenging the order, Shri Ganga Sabha moved the Uttarakhand High Court, arguing that the aarti is a deeply embedded religious and cultural tradition. It sought protection of its right to perform the aarti and contested the municipal action as abrupt and unjustified.
Justice Ashish Nainthani, presiding over the vacation bench, observed that the Ganga aarti was not merely a religious ceremony but a reflection of “ancient cultural and civilisational heritage of the Indian subcontinent.” The court stated that stopping such a longstanding tradition without ensuring an alternative mechanism was “not in the public interest.”
“Suddenly stopping the aarti will cause serious inconvenience to the devotees, pilgrims, and tourists,” the court noted, adding that the act was inconsistent with preserving the sanctity and continuity of a public tradition.
While acknowledging that Shri Ganga Sabha’s registration had indeed expired and that it did not possess a permanent legal entitlement to conduct the ritual, the court granted temporary permission to continue the aarti until further orders.
However, the court imposed the following restrictions:
- No Entry Fees: The Sabha is barred from collecting any entry fee or monetary contribution from devotees attending or watching the aarti.
- No Commissions from Vendors: The Sabha is prohibited from charging rent or commission from local shopkeepers selling religious items like flowers, diyas, and camphor unless it obtains explicit permission from the municipal corporation.
- Strict Cleanliness Norms: The responsibility of maintaining cleanliness at Triveni Ghat now rests entirely with the Sabha. It must ensure proper and immediate disposal of all ritual-related waste — including flowers, oil, and camphor — to prevent river pollution.
The matter will be taken up again on March 25, 2026, when the court is expected to assess compliance with its directions and further deliberate on the future course of conduct for the Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat.
