scorecardresearch
Add as a preferred source on Google
Saturday, March 28, 2026
TopicNavratri

Topic: Navratri

Muslims at garba—whenever a festival becomes exclusionary, we lose a piece of India

Conservative clerics warned Muslims against garba as impermissible; now Hindu right-wing groups call their presence provocative—different reasons, same outcome.

Delhi-NCR garba comes with Punjabi tadka. Yet Gujarat never felt closer

From Purana Quila hosting the first-ever dandiya at any monument in Delhi to the Global Garba Festival at Sunder Nursery, Delhi residents are spoilt for choice.

Maharashtra BJP backs VHP’s ‘only Hindus at garba’ diktat— ‘why take part when you don’t do idol worship’

Maharashtra BJP spokesperson says Quran strictly prohibits idol worship. ‘So for such people participating in garba is an insult to their own faith’.  

VHP, Bajrang Dal’s Garba action plan—women helpline to report harassment, prevent ‘love jihad’ 

In Surat, Bajrang Dal asked organisers to ensure those performing are not scantily clad. It said those attending should also refrain from wearing ‘backless’, ‘deep neck’ outfits.

Which Hinduism is followed in India? CR Park fish shop video raises a bigger question

The CR Park video taps into a growing tension: how far should personal habits, dietary or otherwise, be shaped by the dominant religious mood of the day?

Ordered veg, got non-veg biryani, says woman in video. Noida cops call in eatery staff for questioning

DCP (Central Noida) Shakti Mohan Avasthy says police have taken suo motu cognisance of the matter. So far, no FIR has been lodged, and the woman hasn’t given a statement.

Echoing Delhi BJP MLA’s demand, VHP seeks closure of meat shops in Haryana’s Jind during Navratri

VHP has written to Jind district administration to demand closure of meat shops during the nine-day festival. Beginning of Navratri coincides with the end of Ramazan.

Gujarat Garba threats had been building up. But the ‘ruined’ celebration was unexpected

VHP and Bajrang Dal have been passing diktats against Muslims' entry at Garba venues. But things didn't change much on the ground—until police and politics got involved this year.

After Ganpati, a ‘mega Marathi Dandiya’ — BJP’s ‘Hindu festival’ push before BMC polls

Several Marathi artistes to perform at five-day celebration. Thackeray's Sena calls it attempt to get back Marathi voter base, BJP says 'not everything is for politics'.

Gujarat’s gung-ho about garba after 2-yr hiatus, but organisers, patrons peeved about 18% GST

BJP govt in state had defended the GST on tickets, saying it's been prevalent since 2017. While some organisers are passing on the tax to patrons, others are finding ways to dodge it.

On Camera

Chiraiya shows marital rape is structural—it is embedded in India’s legal framework

Chiraiya, streaming on JioHostar, confronts consent within marriage. It stars Divya Dutta, Siddharth Shaw and Prasanna Bisht.

Drug regulator calls on Indian pharma to move beyond generics, address dependence on bulk imports

Advice comes at a time when India accounts for a 5th of global generic drug supply & 40% of generics used in US. However, this strength in finished formulations relies on imported ingredients.

1st batch of 2,000 India-made Israeli Negev LMGs delivered to Army; 4,000 more to be delivered this year

The Indian Army is set to get another 4,000 of these LMGs as part of a contract signed in August 2024 to replace the 5.56x45mm INSAS LMG.

Gulf war exposed India’s fragilities. It’s time for navel-gazing, in the national interest

It’s easy to understand why the government can’t speak the hard truth. When this war ends, as all wars do, India’s interests will lie with both the winner and the loser.