VHP Issues Guidelines for Garba Events Amid Concerns Over Safety and Conduct
VHPs Anil Rungta urges safety measures for Garba events, calling for immediate reporting of misconduct during Navratri celebrations.
Surat, September 24 (Daily Kiran) : The president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Surat, Anil Rungta, has issued several guidelines for organizers and participants in Garba events during the Navratri festival. He emphasized the importance of verifying the identities of individuals entering the Garba pandals and ensuring robust security measures. Rungta urged that any inappropriate incidents should be reported to the authorities immediately.
In a conversation with reporters, Rungta highlighted that Navratri is a sacred festival for Hindus, and the VHP aims to celebrate it with grandeur while preventing any disruptions. To achieve this, the VHP has proposed guidelines that will be implemented in collaboration with local authorities and event organizers. A key point in these guidelines is that non-Hindus should not be allowed entry into the Garba pandals. He also encouraged attendees to come with a tilak on their foreheads.
Rungta instructed organizers to ensure thorough checks of identification for everyone entering the pandals. He also requested that staff, including bouncers, workers, artists, photographers, and videographers, be comprised of Hindu individuals.
He stated that any incidents of harassment, obscenity, or inappropriate photography or videography in the Garba pandals should be reported to the administration without delay. Rungta appealed to workers not to take the law into their own hands and to notify authorities of any issues, allowing legal processes to take their course.
When questioned about the VHP’s response if organizers fail to adhere to these guidelines, Rungta asserted that the VHP would strongly oppose such actions, clarifying that any protest would remain within the bounds of the law.
In response to comments made by Madhya Pradesh BJP MLA Usha Thakur regarding non-Hindu men accompanying large numbers of girls during Garba events, Rungta maintained that the VHP’s stance is clear. He described Thakur’s remarks as her personal opinion and emphasized that the VHP’s goal is to prevent such situations from arising altogether.
