📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Abdullah1099
Religion
Singer 'Khalasi' Says Non-Hindus Were Asked to Exit Gujarat Garba Event
✍️ NDTV
🗓 16 Oct 2026, 10:16 PM
👁 13
The 'Khalasi' singer alleged that non‑Hindu attendees were told to leave a Garba event in Gujarat and has publicly responded to the incident.
Gujarat's cultural calendar was marred by a controversy when the singer known as 'Khalasi' reported that organizers asked non‑Hindu participants to vacate a Garba gathering. The claim emerged after the event, prompting discussions on inclusivity at religious‑linked festivals.
According to the singer's statements, security personnel approached several attendees who did not identify as Hindu and instructed them to leave the venue. The affected individuals were reportedly escorted out without further explanation.
'Khalasi' took to social media to express disappointment, emphasizing that Garba, while rooted in Hindu tradition, should remain open to all who wish to celebrate the festival. He urged event organizers to uphold a welcoming atmosphere irrespective of faith.
The incident has sparked debate on social platforms, with some users defending the organizers' right to maintain a religious setting, while others condemn the exclusionary practice as contrary to India's secular ethos.
Local authorities have not yet issued an official statement, and the matter remains under observation as cultural groups call for clearer guidelines on participation in community events.
According to the singer's statements, security personnel approached several attendees who did not identify as Hindu and instructed them to leave the venue. The affected individuals were reportedly escorted out without further explanation.
'Khalasi' took to social media to express disappointment, emphasizing that Garba, while rooted in Hindu tradition, should remain open to all who wish to celebrate the festival. He urged event organizers to uphold a welcoming atmosphere irrespective of faith.
The incident has sparked debate on social platforms, with some users defending the organizers' right to maintain a religious setting, while others condemn the exclusionary practice as contrary to India's secular ethos.
Local authorities have not yet issued an official statement, and the matter remains under observation as cultural groups call for clearer guidelines on participation in community events.