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🇮🇳 India /Culture & Society

Maharashtra VHP seeks to bar Muslims from garba and dandiya events

From Hindustan Times · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • The Vishva Hindu Parishad says Muslims should not participate in garba and dandiya events in Maharashtra during Navratri.
  • The group urged organizers to check participants' Aadhaar cards and apply tilak marks at entry to verify Hindu identity.
  • VHP spokesperson Shriraj Nair called the measures precautionary, while saying the organization would not relax its guidelines for Muslims who do not share the festival's religious beliefs.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad has called for Muslims to be barred from garba and dandiya events in Maharashtra, issuing the warning a month before Navratri begins on October 11. The Hindu nationalist group also urged organizers to verify the religious identity of participants.

VHP spokesperson and joint secretary Shriraj Nair said the organization had decided not to allow Muslims to take part in the dances during the festival. “Navratri is not just about songs and dance. The festival is about worshipping the Goddess. Why should Muslims, who are against idol worship, participate in the festival?” he said, according to PTI.

We have taken a decision of not allowing participation of Muslims in garba-dandiya dance during the Navratri festival.

· Shriraj NairThe VHP spokesperson announced the group's position on Muslim participation in Maharashtra's Navratri events.

The group's guidelines include checking participants' Aadhaar cards and applying a tilak to their foreheads when they enter. Nair described the measures as precautionary rather than an effort to target a specific community. He said the VHP viewed festivals as part of Hindu cultural heritage and did not want that heritage diluted.

Navratri is not just about songs and dance. The festival is about worshipping the Goddess. Why should Muslims, who are against idol worship, participate in the festival?

· Shriraj NairNair used the religious character of Navratri to justify the proposed exclusion.

Nair said the VHP was not against anyone, but questioned why it should ease its rules for people who did not share the festival's religious beliefs and form of worship. “The point is, why should we relax our guidelines for Muslims who don't subscribe to our religious beliefs and style of worship?” he said.

He added that Muslims who wanted to participate should attend with family members or organize Navratri celebrations in mosques or at their residences. His comments came weeks after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat called for social and religious harmony in India and around the world.

The point is, why should we relax our guidelines for Muslims who don't subscribe to our religious beliefs and style of worship?

· Shriraj NairHe defended the VHP's proposed screening rules for event participants.
About this summary

Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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