Navratri is being celebrated across the country with tremendous fervor. Pandals have been set up at various places to worship Maa Durga. Garba is also performed along with Durga Puja in these pandals, in which hundreds of people dance together. In Ratlam city of Madhya Pradesh too, grand Garba programs are being organized at many places on Navratri, but now a controversy has started over Garba here. A Muslim cleric in Ratlam has asked his community members not to participate in Garba.
This instruction has been given to the Muslim community by Maulvi Syed Ahmed Ali. They are also locally known as’ Shahar Qazi ‘. The cleric told his community members that participating in Hindu events like Garba was against Islamic teachings. Therefore, Muslims should not go to festivals of other religions.
Maulvi Ahmed Ali has issued a written message to the Muslim community in this regard. “I request Muslim youth, mothers, and sisters not to go to Garba fairs or watch Garba programs. During these festivals, people of the Muslim community should stay at home. Clarifying his message, the cleric said he appealed to his community given the prevailing situation. ” Hindu organizations are already doing it. In several parts of Madhya Pradesh, Hindu outfits have banned the entry of non-Hindus in Navratri pandals.
The entry of non-Hindus is also banned in the Garba events being held in Ratlam. A banner with this message has also been put up at the entry points of the venue. Meanwhile, a local Hindu leader in Indore sparked a controversy by saying that it should be mandatory for people to drink cow urine before entering the Garba event. This leader argued that a true Hindu would not refuse such a ritual.
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