Garba nights in Bastar face objection as VHP, Bajrang Dal oppose non-Hindu sponsors

Raipur: After posters calling for ban on "non-Hindus" entering garba grounds during Navratri appeared across MP, VHP and Bajrang Dal have given a call in Bastar in neighbouring Chhattisgarh to boycott "non-Hindus" from sponsoring garbas. They have claimed that it "violates the sanctity of religious traditions."Both VHP and Bajrang Dal felt "it would be impossible to maintain the purity and cultural richness of the garba if non-Sanatani sponsors are involved.""Several garba programmes have become platforms for obscenity and vulgarity. This is disrespect for the sanctity of the festival," they said.VHP Jagdalpur district president Shankar Lal Gupta said complaints of inappropriate behaviour and indecency at certain garba nights organised in public lawns, hotels, and private venues have poured in in the past. Gupta warned that VHP would stop such programmes if authorities fail to act.VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders in Jagdalpur said garba celebrations should begin only after applying tilak to every participant while reciting the Hanuman Chalisa and singing devotional bhajans should be mandatory."This is Navratri, a time for devotion. We will not tolerate vulgarity or distortion of culture in the name of garba," Munna Kori of Bajrang Dal's Jagdalpur unit said. Tickets for some of the upcoming garba events were reportedly cancelled, and written objections were submitted by local committees, said Kori, adding that at least three planned garba nights have already been called off. Police sources said a memorandum has been submitted by the organisations and cops would be deployed at venues to prevent any law and order situation, besides continuous patrolling. The groups have also urged the administration and municipal authorities to impose restrictions on sale of liquor, meat and fish in Raipur during the festival days, or shift vendors to other areas.Posters displaying ‘Varaha avatar' have been circulated among organisers to put it up at the venue, emphasising that it is a Hindu festival.