Aadhaar, Tilak, Aarti: VHP Calls For Muslim Ban At Maharashtra Garba Events During Navratri

Last Updated:September 05, 2026, 02:42 IST

The organisation has issued a stringent list of directives to event organisers, mandating identity verification and religious markers to ensure the enforcement of the restrictions

Volunteers from the VHP and its youth wing, the Bajrang Dal, will actively patrol venues and gate checkpoints across the state to monitor compliance. Representational image/PTI

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called for a complete ban on Muslim participation in garba and dandiya events across Maharashtra for the upcoming 10-day Navratri festival.

The right-wing organisation has issued a stringent list of directives to event organisers, mandating identity verification and religious markers to ensure the enforcement of the restrictions.

Mandatory Verification Protocols

To prevent the entry of non-Hindus into venues, the VHP has instructed event managers and security personnel to implement strict checks:

• Aadhaar Card Screening: Security guards at venue gates must inspect the government identification cards of all attendees before granting entry.
• Forehead Tilak Application: Organisers must apply a ritual tilak on the foreheads of participants to mark their religious identity.
• Participation in Rituals: Attendees are required to participate in the aarti and traditional worship of Goddess Durga upon entering the premises.
• On-Ground Monitoring: Volunteers from the VHP and its youth wing, the Bajrang Dal, will actively patrol venues and gate checkpoints across the state to monitor compliance.

Theological and Cultural Justification

Defending the move, VHP national spokesperson and joint secretary Shriraj Nair stated that Navratri is fundamentally a religious festival centred on deity worship rather than mere commercial entertainment.

Nair argued that communities opposed to idol worship should not participate in devotional festivities. While describing the directives as “precautionary measures” rather than an offensive campaign against any group, the organisation emphasised that it would not permit the dilution of Hindu cultural traditions or the misuse of venues by unauthorised attendees.

Political Contrast and Reactions

The directive comes shortly after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat emphasised universal brotherhood and human dignity during an event in New York, stating that a true Hindu respects all faith paths. Pressed on the contrast between the statements, VHP leadership declined to comment directly on the RSS chief’s remarks, reiterating that religious guidelines would remain firm.

Opposition political leaders in Maharashtra have criticised the guidelines as divisive and legally unenforceable, whereas ruling coalition representatives stated that private event committees retain the right to set entry rules provided they hold valid police permissions.

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What measures has the VHP mandated for entry to Garba events in Maharashtra during Navratri?

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has instructed organizers to implement Aadhaar card screening, apply a tilak on participants’ foreheads, and require participation in aarti and traditional worship of Goddess Durga to ensure only Hindus enter Garba and Dandiya events during Navratri in Maharashtra.

What is the VHP’s justification for banning Muslims from Navratri Garba events in Maharashtra?

VHP national spokesperson Shriraj Nair stated that Navratri is a religious festival centered on deity worship, not commercial entertainment. He argued that communities opposed to idol worship should not participate in devotional festivities, describing the directives as “precautionary measures” to protect Hindu cultural traditions.

How have political leaders in Maharashtra reacted to the VHP’s directives for Garba events?

Opposition political leaders in Maharashtra have criticized the VHP’s guidelines as divisive and legally unenforceable. In contrast, ruling coalition representatives stated that private event committees have the right to set entry rules, provided they have valid police permissions.

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Pathikrit Sen Gupta

Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He tra…Read More

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