A fresh controversy has erupted at the Navratri Garba festival being held at Jeryl Lawn in Nagpur, after the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal installed a large image of Lord Varahadev at the entrance gate. Organizers are reportedly allowing entry to participants only after applying kumkum (vermillion) on their foreheads and checking Aadhaar cards, raising concerns that the move is intended to prevent entry of members from the certain community.
The Garba festival at Jeryl Lawn is being hosted by the Yashiv Garba Utsav Committee. However, at the entrance gate, VHP and Bajrang Dal workers have set up the Varahadev image and insist that all attendees bow before it before being granted entry. Additionally, a kumkum tilak is applied to every participant, and Aadhaar verification is being carried out before entry passes are granted.
This step follows directives issued recently by VHP’s Vidarbha regional minister, Prashant Titre, who had publicly appealed to Garba organizers to install Varahadev’s image at their venues and to verify Aadhaar cards of all participants. Speaking at a press conference in Nagpur on September 20, Titre had argued that some “anti-religious elements” express disdain for Varahadev. According to him, displaying Varahadev’s image would automatically discourage such individuals from attending Garba celebrations.
When asked by the media whether the move was specifically aimed at excluding Muslim youth, Titre admitted that Varahadev does not have a direct link with Navratri but maintained that Varah is a Hindu deity and an avatar. “If some people believe that seeing Varah shatters or threatens their faith, then they should stay away. Those who do not believe in Hinduism, idol worship, or the Mother Goddess have no reason to participate in Garba festivities,” Titre declared.
The move has triggered sharp reactions from netizens.
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