New Delhi: Weeks before Navratri begins in October, BJP leaders and Hindu groups have already started targeting Muslims over their participation in garba nights organised during the nine days of the festival.
A recent comment by Mhow BJP MLA Usha Thakur, who called for restricting non-Hindus from entering garba pandals in Indore, has once again ignited the age-old controversy over the entry of Muslims in garba pandals.
Speaking to journalists in Indore Monday about banning the entry of Muslim men at Navratri events, Thakur said that several outfits have taken a vow that entry into garba pandals will be prohibited for those who do not worship idols.
She claimed that 4.5 lakh Hindu girls elope with non-Hindu men during garba every year, linking the unsubstantiated statistic to demographic change.
“Throughout the year, during garba, 4.5 lakh girls used to elope during garba. These adult daughters would give birth to one child each the following year, and demographic change was being affected at a rate of 9 lakh per year, which is why such a ban on the entry of vidharmis (non-Hindus) at garba pandals is necessary,” she said.
She further alleged that, as part of a “vile conspiracy”, some people apply a tilak or tie a kalawa before joining garba events to conceal their identity and mislead Hindu women, ultimately making their lives “hell”. She said that no patriotic citizen should allow such a practice to continue.
Thakur criticised the commercialisation of garba events, adding that it is destroying the festival.
“In all garba pandals, those who are non-believers will not be allowed entry for life,” she said.
Thakur’s comment is neither new nor the most controversial. Every year ahead of the festival, Right-wing groups and BJP leaders make comments and issue threats against Muslims attending garba events.
Speaking at a public event in Bhopal on 20 September, Huzur BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma asked Muslim men to bring their mothers, sisters, and daughters to garba events, adding that “Our boys are ready.”
Calling Navratri a festival of Sanatan Dharma, Sharma said that if Muslims want to participate in garba, they should also chant “Jai Shri Ram”, put a tilak on their foreheads, and come with their families, including women, and permanently accept the religion.
“Garba mein Musalman aana chahte hain, aa jao, akele ladke hi kyun aana chahte ho? Ghar se apni behan-betiyon ko bhi lekar aao. Hamare bhi chore tayyar hain,” he said in Hindi from on the stage.
Words and violence
While BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyay called for Muslims to be banned from attending garba events on 20 September, former party MP Gopal Shetty imposed conditions, stating that those wishing to participate must wear a tilak and follow Hindu rituals.
Muslims were not directly banned from the biggest garba event in Mumbai’s Borivali, but conditions were imposed on their entry. Muslim attendees were reportedly asked to wear a tilak and follow Hindu rituals. The organisers also announced Aadhaar-based entry checks amid a wider controversy over Muslim participation in Navratri festivities in Maharashtra.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) had earlier also called for Muslims to be kept out of garba and dandiya events across Maharashtra.
“We have taken the decision not to allow Muslim participation in garba-dandiya dance during the Navratri festival,” said VHP national spokesperson and joint secretary Shriraj Nair.
The VHP has also alleged that Muslim men enter garba events using false identities and target Hindu women, describing such alleged incidents as “love jihad”.
“The Navratri festival is not just about song and dance. The festival is about worshipping the goddess. Why should Muslims who are against idol worship participate in the festival?” he asked.
The targeting of Muslims during Navratri events is not limited to comments and restrictions on their participation. In 2022, several videos went viral on social media, showing Bajrang Dal members assaulting Muslim men at garba events.
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‘Mumbaikar first, Muslim second’
Not everyone from the BJP fold seems intent on keeping Muslims out of garba. Amid the controversy, some BJP leaders sought to tone down the issue while Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, took a more inclusive position.
“I feel our festival is inclusive. If a Muslim person comes and enjoys garba and leaves, I would not find anything wrong with it,” she said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray also questioned the VHP’s decision to bar Muslims from garba and dandiya events across Maharashtra.
“Who are these people to give us a certificate of Hindutva? Whether it is garba, Navratri, Dahi Handi, or Ganpati celebrations in Mumbai, the first identity of everyone you see here is that they are Mumbaikars. Whatever language they speak, whichever state they come from, whatever their religion or caste, they come for Bappa. They do not come for any particular person. Bappa belongs to everyone,” he said.
Many social media users also called out the VHP’s call to ban Muslims from garba and dandiya celebrations, as well as the comments made by its leaders.
“How did VHP become a deciding authority about Hinduism?” one user wrote on X.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)