No Muslims, Aadhaar mandatory, tilak must: VHP's Maharashtra garba-dandiya rules

VHP spokesperson and joint secretary Shriraj Nair said the organisation had decided to prevent members of the Muslim community from participating in garba and dandiya events, arguing that the festival is centred on worshipping the Hindu goddess.VHP calls to exclude Muslims in garba and dandiya festivals during Navratri (Photo: Representative)The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called for Muslims to be kept out of garba and dandiya events during next month's Navratri festival in Maharashtra and issued guidelines urging organisers to verify the identity of participants.The Navratri festival begins on October 11 this year. Among the measures suggested by the VHP are checking the Aadhaar cards of attendees and applying tilak on their foreheads.VHP spokesperson and joint secretary Shriraj Nair said the organisation had decided to prevent members of the Muslim community from participating in garba and dandiya events, arguing that the festival is centred on worshipping the Hindu goddess."We have taken a decision not to allow participation of Muslims in garba-dandiya dance during the Navratri festival," Nair said. "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.The VHP has described the restrictions as precautionary measures to preserve what it considers the cultural character of Hindu festivals. Nair said the move was not directed against any particular community. "The VHP, which is unwilling to compromise on its core agenda of religious conversion and anti-cow slaughter, believes festivals are an integral part of the cultural legacy of the Hindus. And it cannot allow its dilution. However, it admits the restrictions are precautionary measures and not directed against Muslims or any other communities," he said.The guidelines have drawn criticism from opposition parties and leaders, who have questioned both their constitutional validity and whether the RSS leadership endorses the VHP's position.OPPOSITION QUESTIONS VHP DIKTATShiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut criticised the VHP and referred to a recent speech by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in New York, asking whether the organisation disagreed with his remarks on Hindu-Muslim relations.Bhagwat, while addressing a gathering at Madison Square in New York, had stressed universal oneness and dignity for all people."If any Hindu thinks there should be no Muslims in India, he will not remain Hindu. If you want to call yourself a Hindu, you have to believe that all paths lead to the same goal. Every human has dignity. There is no difference between human beings," Bhagwat had said.Asked to respond to Bhagwat's remarks, Nair said the VHP would not comment on the RSS chief's statement."We are not against anybody. We also believe in social harmony and peace," he said.Nair, however, questioned why the VHP should relax its guidelines for Muslims who, according to him, do not subscribe to the religious beliefs and form of worship associated with Navratri."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 also said Muslims who wanted to participate in Navratri festivities should attend with their families, while suggesting that they could organise such celebrations at mosques or near their residences."If Muslims are keen to participate in the Navratri festivities, they should come with their family members, wives and sisters. They should organise the Navratri festivals in the mosques or places of their residences," Nair said.Congress MLA Amin Patel called the VHP's move unconstitutional and said festivals traditionally serve as occasions for communal harmony."Festivals encourage communal harmony. We are often invited for dandiya and Navratri events out of goodwill. We also call members of other communities for Eid and Ramzan," Patel said.NCP (SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto also criticised the VHP's guidelines, saying they could disturb peace and harmony in Maharashtra. He questioned the BJP-led state government's response to the move and asked whether it would remain silent while allowing the VHP to dictate matters relating to law and order."The question is, what is the BJP government in the state going to do about this? Are they going to be mute and allow the VHP to govern law and order in the state? They should prove to the people of Maharashtra that nobody is above the law of the land," Crasto said.MINORITY COMMISSION OBJECTS TO EXCLUSIONMaharashtra State Minority Commission Chairman Pyare Khan said everyone has the right to celebrate festivals according to their faith, but objected to a blanket exclusion of Muslims from public festivities.Khan noted that several organisations invite Muslims to such events and argued that festivals should bring communities together rather than create divisions."Everyone has the right to celebrate festivals of one's faith. But saying that Muslims will not be allowed... Several organisations invite Muslims too. Festivals connect people, not divide them," he said.Khan added that participation should depend on whether people are invited, rather than on communal restrictions."If someone doesn't want to call them, don't call them. Nobody goes there forcibly anyway. People go when they are called with love," he said.The VHP's announcement has therefore triggered a wider debate in Maharashtra over who can participate in public religious and cultural celebrations, the role of organisers in verifying attendees' religious identities and the limits of such restrictions in a diverse society.- EndsPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Sep 6, 2026 09:49 IST