Chhattisgarh Waqf Board Chief Stirs Row Over Navratri Festivities

Igniting a fierce socio-political debate in the run-up to the festive season, Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board Chairman Dr. Salim Raj has stated that members of the Muslim community participating in Garba celebrations must strictly adhere to all sacred Hindu customs associated with the ritual dance, including idol worship (murti puja), applying the ceremonial tilak, and tying the sacred red thread (kalava). Speaking ahead of the upcoming nine-day Sharadiya Navratri festival scheduled to commence on October 11, 2026, the Waqf Board chief emphasized that Garba is an intrinsically devotional Hindu event dedicated to Goddess Durga rather than secular entertainment. Consequently, anyone wishing to take part must show complete deference to its sacred rituals while maintaining decorum and transparency.Respecting Sacred Traditions: Idol Worship, Tilak, and Kalava Made Mandatory by Waqf ChiefDr. Salim Raj framed participation in the seasonal folk dance around active religious compliance rather than casual socialization:Garba Defined as Devotional Worship: Calling Garba a sacred ritual embedded in Hindu spiritual heritage, he maintained that outsiders cannot treat the celebration as mere social revelry while ignoring its fundamental core.Observing Ritual Conventions: He asserted that if Muslim youth choose to attend Garba pandals, they should participate by adopting the devotional customs of the festival—including paying obeisance to the consecrated idols, accepting forehead tilak, and wearing kalava.Involvement of Family Members: Dr. Raj appealed to Muslim men to attend these festive gatherings accompanied by their own female family members—mothers, sisters, and daughters—to promote mutual cultural respect, rather than attending exclusively in groups of young men.Allegations of Harassment and 'Love Jihad': Call for Stricter Security ProtocolsThe Waqf Board chairman raised serious security and communal concerns regarding inter-faith participation at festive venues:Direct Allegations Leveled: Dr. Raj alleged that certain elements among Muslim youth misuse festival gatherings to engage in the harassment of women and promote illicit conversions under the guise of "love jihad."Advisory on Inter-Community Dancing: Expressing sharp reservations, he urged young men from his community to refrain from dancing with women from other religious backgrounds at public venues.Vigilance for Pandals and Organizers: He called on festival coordination committees and commercial Garba organizers across Raipur and neighboring districts to maintain tight surveillance over crowd entry and ensure robust security arrangements throughout the nine festive nights.Legal Action Demanded Against Impersonation: Mandatory FIRs for Entry Under False IdentityTo prevent covert entries and maintain transparent verification, the Waqf Board chief called for direct police intervention:Zero Tolerance for Fake Identifiers: Warning against deceptive practices, Dr. Raj demanded that immediate police cases (First Information Reports / FIRs) be registered against any individual caught using false names, fake identity cards, or fabricated credentials to gain entry into dance arenas.Identity Scrutiny at Checkpoints: He urged local law enforcement and venue organizers to deploy strict identity verification mechanisms at entry gates across the state capital.Pre-Navratri Political Buzz: The bold statements from a statutory minority board leader have triggered sharp reactions across political and religious spectrums in Chhattisgarh, setting a charged backdrop as regional authorities prepare logistical arrangements for the upcoming festival.