Garba Entry Row Intensifies As Hindu Groups Demand ID Checks, Religious Proof For Participation

As Navratri celebrations begin across India, controversy over Garba event entry rules is escalating in multiple states. In Bhopal, organizations like Sanskriti Bachao Manch and Hindu Utsav Samiti have issued warnings to Garba organizers, demanding that non-Hindu, especially Muslim boys, be denied entry. They have asked organizers to place Lord Vishnu’s image outside venues and only allow entry to those who offer prayers.In Indore, VHP and Bajrang Dal have launched a campaign with posters across the city stating, “Check ID cards before entry.” Special teams have reportedly been formed to identify and stop Muslim boys from entering Garba venues. Ujjain BJP MP Anil Firozia also declared that Kalawa (sacred thread) and Tilak must be mandatory, along with Aadhaar verification for all male entrants.The move has sparked a nationwide debate on religious discrimination and communal polarization during festivals. Critics argue this violates the secular fabric of Indian society, while proponents cite “cultural protection.Meanwhile, similar tensions are rising in Kawardha (Chhattisgarh) over a temple dispute, and in Muzaffarnagar (UP), a young man died from a cobra bite during a reckless snake rescue, highlighting growing religious, cultural, and safety concerns during festive times.