A controversy over Muslim participation in Maharashtra’s upcoming Navratri garba and dandiya events has turned into a political dispute, with the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) calling for restrictions on Muslim entry while BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane has backed the demand.
The issue intensified after Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, said she saw nothing wrong with Muslims attending garba celebrations peacefully. Her comments have put a different emphasis on inclusivity as political leaders debate the participation of different communities in public festival events.
Navratri is scheduled to begin on October 11, 2026, and the dispute has emerged weeks before garba and dandiya events are expected to begin across the state.
VHP Calls for Restrictions at Garba Events
The VHP has called for Muslims to be excluded from garba and dandiya venues in Maharashtra during Navratri.
The organisation has also issued guidelines for organisers that reportedly include checking participants' identities and Aadhaar cards and applying a tilak before entry. The VHP has defended the move by arguing that Navratri is a religious festival centred on Hindu worship and that its traditions should be protected.
VHP spokesperson Shriraj Nair has questioned the participation of people who do not follow idol worship in a festival centred on the worship of Hindu deities.
The proposed restrictions, however, have no automatic force simply because they have been issued as organisational guidelines. Individual event organisers and authorities would determine how specific venues operate, subject to applicable law and regulations.
Nitesh Rane Backs VHP Position
Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane has publicly supported the VHP's position.
Rane has cited what he described as concerns over “love jihad” during festivals and supported identity checks at garba venues. He has also suggested that people attending the events should recite the Hanuman Chalisa before being allowed entry.
“Love jihad” is a term used by right-wing activists to allege that Muslim men enter relationships with Hindu women with the intention of religious conversion. The allegation is politically contested and should not be treated as an established explanation for individual relationships or incidents.
Amruta Fadnavis Takes Different Position
Amruta Fadnavis has taken a contrasting view, saying festivals should be inclusive.
Speaking to reporters, she said that if a Muslim person attends a garba event and enjoys the celebration peacefully, she sees nothing wrong with it. She also described the festival as inclusive and emphasised the importance of following rules governing public events.
Her remarks have drawn attention because they came soon after Rane's endorsement of the VHP's proposed restrictions.
The disagreement has therefore expanded beyond the question of event entry into a wider political debate over how religious festivals should be organised in a plural society.
Opposition Targets Maharashtra Government
Opposition leaders have seized on the contrasting positions.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut questioned the apparent contradiction between the VHP's proposed restrictions in Maharashtra and the BJP leadership's diplomatic outreach to Muslim-majority countries.
Raut also questioned the position of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Hindu-Muslim unity and urged clarity over the VHP's demand.
The Congress has also backed Amruta Fadnavis's inclusive position, adding another political dimension to the controversy.
Debate Centres on Identity and Public Festivals
At the heart of the dispute is a larger question: whether participation in a public garba or dandiya event should be determined by religious identity or by the rules set by the organisers and authorities.
Supporters of restrictions argue that garba during Navratri is fundamentally a religious celebration and that organisers have a right to protect its character. Critics say excluding people solely on the basis of religion risks turning public cultural celebrations into spaces of religious segregation.
The controversy has also brought the proposed use of identity documents and religious markers such as tilak into the political debate.
What Happens During Navratri?
With Navratri beginning on October 11, the immediate question will be how individual garba and dandiya organisers respond to the competing demands.
For now, the VHP's call, Rane's support and Amruta Fadnavis's inclusive position have exposed differing approaches within Maharashtra's wider political ecosystem.
The controversy is likely to remain in focus as organisers finalise arrangements for the festival and political parties continue debating the balance between religious identity, cultural participation and social harmony.
