The festive spirit in Maharashtra and all over India, too—usually alive with the rhythmic beat of dandiya sticks, vibrant ghagras, and a strong sense of community—has been overshadowed this year –once again– by a growing campaign that many see as an attempt to divide. Even before the Navratri celebrations began on September 22, right-wing groups led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had begun circulating instructions to Garba and Dandiya organisers across the state. Their message was direct that non-Hindus, particularly Muslims, should not be allowed to participate.
Many observers believe this push for exclusion is not just about religious identity, but a calculated move to stir communal tensions in the run-up to municipal elections. By focusing attention on who gets to celebrate, the narrative risks shifting public conversation away from everyday concerns like water-logging during the monsoon, crumbling roads, and the steady relocation of industries—issues that directly affect people’s lives.
This trend of the weaponisation of India’s festivals has been visible over the past decade. Last year, October 2024, Citizens for Justice and Peace documented how, In Gujrat’s Kutch district a Dalit family was allegedly beaten up for attending a Garba event by the members belonging to the upper caste.
VHP’s communal demand: compulsorily check Aadhaar card, and apply tilak on participants
In a move that seeks to redefine the very nature of community celebration, the VHP’s advisory for Maharashtra’s Navratri events laid out a clear protocol for exclusion. It was not a mere suggestion but a detailed set of instructions for enforcement, transforming entry points of festival venues into checkpoints of religious identity.
The first step in this new code is the mandatory verification of identity through Aadhaar cards. This measure, organisers were told, was to ensure that only individuals from the Hindu community could gain access. Following this screening, the second step was the application of a tilak on the forehead of each participant. This traditional mark, historically a symbol of welcome and piety, was repurposed as a visible marker and a final stamp of approval, confirming a person’s religious identity before they could join the festivities.
According to the Indian Express, Shriraj Nair, the VHP’s spokesperson in Maharashtra, articulated the rationale behind this exclusionary stance in stark terms. “The Navratri festival is not just fun and frolic. It is a religious event where devotees worship gods and goddesses. Hence, non-Hindus should not be allowed in garba-dandiya events,” he stated.
Nair framed the issue through a theological lens, questioning the presence of those who do not practice idol worship at a festival centred around it. He then issued a stark ultimatum that erased any ambiguity about the campaign’s intent: “If Muslims are so eager to participate, let them convert to Hinduism and wholeheartedly accept our religion. After all, they can trace their roots back to their Hindu ancestors. They are late converts. We have no objection if Muslims accept the Hindu religion and participate”, as reported.
Last week, September 16, we had reported how right-wing outfits AHP–Rashtriya Bajrang Dal had demanded a ‘Muslim ban at Navratri garba in Jabalpur,’ citing ‘love jihad’. Echoing such negative calls including from Guna also in Madhya Pradesh, the organisations had also demanded Aadhaar checks, threatening the administration with consequences if tensions escalate!!
The ideological justification: from ‘love jihad’ to “theological debates”
The foundation of the VHP’s campaign is the “love jihad” conspiracy theory—an unproven claim that Muslim men are engaged in a systematic plot to lure Hindu women into relationships with the sole aim of converting them to Islam. This narrative has been a recurring theme for right-wing groups, and Navratri, with its large gatherings of young people, is being presented as a prime ground for such activities.
In previous years, the VHP has actively monitored prominent garba venues, checking Aadhaar cards of attendees and applying tilak marks as a form of religious identification—practices it intends to continue this year.
However, senior VHP member Prashant Titre stated, “Our stance is clear, and our campaign will continue this year too.” He emphasised that “Garba-dandiya organisers should ensure only Hindus are allowed after strictly verifying every participant’s Aadhaar card”, as Times of India reported
The VHP further alleged that Navratri celebrations are being misused to promote instances of “love jihad,” claiming that many Hindu women and girls have been deceived by individuals from other religions under the guise of romance. With families attending in large numbers, the group argues that such events are vulnerable to exploitation by “anti-social and criminal elements.” As a preventive measure, the VHP has called for mandatory CCTV surveillance at all venues and urged the police to implement stricter security protocols and issue clear guidelines.
The Quran strictly prohibits idol worship, why should such people come to Garba? asks BJP
Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye took to X (formerly Twitter) to argue that the ban was, in fact, an act of respecting Islam. He wrote, “The Quran strictly prohibits idol worship (Surah Al-Ankabut – 29:25). So, for those whose religious scriptures themselves ban idol worship, participating in Hindus’ Garba is an insult to their own faith! Yet still – why should such people come to Garba?”
He positioned the exclusionary stance not as an act of enmity but as one of “preserving respect for religions,” arguing that “’Only Hindus in Garba’ – this insistence promotes harmony in society and mutual respect.”
कुराणात मूर्तीपूजेचा कठोर निषेध आहे (सूरा अल-अन्कबूत – 29:25). मग ज्यांच्या धर्मग्रंथातच मूर्तीपूजेवर बंदी आहे, त्यांनी हिंदूंच्या गरब्यात सहभागी होणे हा त्यांच्या स्वतःच्या श्रद्धेचा अपमान!
तरीदेखील – अशा लोकांनी का यायचं गरब्यात?रास गरबा महोत्सवात ‘देवी’च्या मूर्तीसमोर…
— Keshav Upadhye (@keshavupadhye) September 22, 2025
A nationally coordinated hateful campaign
The campaign in Maharashtra is not an isolated event but a playbook being implemented across several other states, indicating a coordinated national strategy.
In cities across Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the message of exclusion was made public and official. Organisers in Bhopal, Khandwa, Kota, and Bhilwara erected large banners and posters at city squares and venue entrances, explicitly warning non-Hindus against even thinking of entering Garba pandals.
Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
On September 13, weeks before Navratri began, members of the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP) and Rashtriya Bajrang Dal staged a formal protest in Omti. They submitted a memorandum to local authorities demanding a complete ban on Muslim participation, organisation, and attendance at Garba events. Citing “love jihad” and the argument that Bollywood songs “hurt the sentiments of Sanatan Dharma,” they warned that the administration would be held responsible for any “escalation in communal tensions.”
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Satna, Madhya Pradesh
On September 18, the members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal took to the streets, reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, burning tyres, and blocking roads. Their demands included the removal of nearby meat markets, which they alleged were illegal, and a strictly enforced ban on non-Hindus at all Garba events in the district. They also submitted a memorandum with the demands to district officials.
SP leader supported the ban on Muslim entry in Garba events
Reacting to the developments, Samajwadi Party leader S.T. Hassan from Moradabad offered a different perspective, welcoming the ban. He said, “I welcome this action because Navratri is a religious event. Idol worship is not acceptable in Islam, so if any Muslim brother goes there, he would be acting against his religious beliefs. As I have mentioned earlier, Muslim youths should consider Hindu girls as their sisters…”
Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh: Reacting to the ban on the entry of Muslims in garba pandals, Samajwadi Party leader S.T. Hassan says, “I welcome this action because Navratri is a religious event. Idol worship is not acceptable in Islam, so if any Muslim brother goes there, he would be… pic.twitter.com/mtdnd48BLn
— IANS (@ians_india) September 22, 2025
However, incidents from last year in Jhansi, Indore, Dewas, and Guna also show that this isn’t just a series of random flare-ups—it’s becoming a worrying trend. In several BJP-ruled states, festivals like Navratri are increasingly being turned into platforms for exclusion. Muslim artists and youth have been singled out, stopped from performing, harassed, and even attacked, all under the claim of protecting religious sentiments. These aren’t isolated cases—they reflect a deeper effort to push certain communities out of public and cultural spaces. Festivals, which once brought people together, are slowly being used to drive people apart.
Related:
Navratri: Communal demands mark pre-festival protest in Jabalpur
VHP leader assaults Muslim youth attempting to enter Navratri event in UP