Hindu Group's Garba Entry Restrictions Stir Controversy

A right-wing Hindu group demands that Garba event attendees worship 'Varaha' and consume 'panch-gavya' to prevent entry from other communities. This follows another BJP leader's call for mandatory cow urine consumption. These measures seek to ensure only 'Sanatana dharma' believers partake in the Navratri celebrations.

A local right-wing Hindu organisation on Tuesday demanded that Garba organisers allow entry only to those who worship 'Varaha', the third avatar of Vishnu, in a bid to exclude members of other communities.

Varaha avatar is depicted as an Indian boar in Hindu mythology.

Earlier, a BJP leader in Madhya Pradesh had called for mandatory cow urine consumption for those participating in Garba dances during the upcoming Navratri festival starting on October 3.

Chandrashekhar Tiwari, who heads 'Sanskriti Bachao Manch', stated that Garba organisers should place a picture of Varaha at entry points and ensure participants worship it before entry. He also mentioned that offering 'panch-gavya', a mixture of cow's urine, dung, milk, curd, and ghee, would prevent other communities from participating since they consider Varaha avatar unholy.

Earlier, Indore district BJP president Chintu Verma had suggested Garba organisers allow entry only to those who sip cow urine (gau-mutra).

(With inputs from agencies.)