Muslims asked to leave Gujarat Garba: singer disowns call

Ahmedabad: Popular Gujarati folk singer Aditya Gadhvi has disowned an announcement asking Muslims to leave a Navratri garba venue in Ahmedabad, following widespread criticism after a video of the incident circulated on social media, according to reports.

The incident occurred on Wednesday during the ‘Rang Morla ft. Aditya Gadhvi’ programme at Savvana Party Plot on Shela Road. Anchor and radio jockey Akash Trivedi reportedly used the stage to ask attendees from Muslims to leave, while invoking the Vishva Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) stated aim of protecting Sanatan Dharma. He also publicised a helpline number and urged people to report individuals deemed suspicious.

The episode has raised concerns over attempts to turn a community celebration into a space for religious exclusion, particularly when garba has traditionally brought people together across communities.

Gadhvi subsequently clarified on Instagram that the announcement did not reflect his views and that he had neither authorised nor participated in it. He said people had taken control of the backstage area and used the platform without consulting him or his team. The singer emphasised that his performances were intended for music and devotion, adding that anyone who attended with respect for the festival’s deity was welcome.

Gujarat VHP spokesperson Hitendrasinh Rajput, however, defended the practice, saying Bajrang Dal volunteers routinely visit garba events and ask organisers to keep non-Hindus out. He also described practices including applying tilak to male attendees and removing people considered suspicious.

Trivedi later accepted a collaborative Instagram post featuring Gadhvi’s statement.

Known internationally for promoting Gujarati folk music, Gadhvi rose to wider prominence with the Coke Studio Bharat hit "Khalasi". The controversy has brought renewed attention to the exclusion of Muslims from public cultural celebrations under the pretext of religious protection.