VHP volunteers barred non-Hindus and Muslims from the Rang Morla garba event in Ahmedabad during Navratri 2024, forcing a sudden purge amid the festival’s celebratory ambience.
The announcement came from RJ Akash Trivedi, who, while hosting the show, urged attendees to leave via a VHP helpline, citing the organization’s role in protecting Sanatan. Trivedi’s on‑stage appeal was accompanied by a live video that quickly spread across social media, sparking outrage among viewers who saw the gesture as exclusionary.
VHP officials defended the decision, stating that volunteers routinely patrol venues to prevent non-Hindus from entering. Critics countered that the gesture contravened Gujarat’s long tradition of inclusive garba, where people of all faiths dance side by side.
Singer Aditya Gadhvi, whose name graced the event’s marquee, issued a statement on Instagram distancing himself from the incident, declaring it was not his doing and that he had not consulted the anchor or VHP volunteers. Gadhvi emphasized that garba is a cultural celebration for everyone, underscoring that his platform is for music and devotion, not politics.