In India, incidents involving Muslim groups disrupting Hindu festivals continue to occur

Image: Jihad Watch

The Durga Puja festival, also known as Navaratri among Hindus globally, stands as the most significant celebration for Bengali Hindus in West Bengal and beyond. This festival is deeply rooted in Hindu religious traditions, centering around the worship of a Hindu deity, with each aspect—rituals, prayers, and customs—derived from Hindu spiritual practices. While this religious essence is evident from the very name, Durga (Supreme Hindu Goddess) Puja (worship), it has recently faced reinterpretations by a liberal faction within Bengali Hindu society. This group promotes the festival as a purely social event, often using the phrase “Dharma jar jar, Utsab sabar,” meaning “Regardless of one’s religion, this festival is for all.” Through repetition, some argue, this message has convinced some Hindus that Durga Puja is an inclusive, non-religious event open to people of all beliefs, though Muslims largely do not perceive it this way.

Indeed, many Muslims openly distance themselves from Durga Puja due to the Islamic prohibition against idol worship. Reports from across the Indo-Bangladesh border for years have highlighted incidents of vandalism targeting Hindu temples and festivals, incidents often ignored by some liberal Hindus. In India, liberal Hindus, proponents of an idealized secularism, often focus on appealing to the Muslim community, despite occasional episodes of conflict.

One recent incident on October 11, in Garden Reach, a Muslim-majority area in Kolkata, illustrates this tension. Approximately 60 individuals reportedly demanded the stoppage of Hindu devotional songs at a Durga Puja site, using offensive language toward Hindu women and threatening to disrupt the celebration if their demands were not met. This incident, while widely reported, was largely downplayed by some who advocate for religious unity. Shortly after, the Shyampur Bazaar Babasyayi Samiti held an art competition that encouraged depictions of “eminent personalities of different religions” to promote interfaith understanding. In a display at their Durga Puja venue, images of various religious figures were included to educate Hindu children about different religions. However, this attempt at inclusivity backfired when a depiction of Muhammad angered members of the Muslim community, leading to a forceful disruption of the venue.

The events at the Shyampur Bazaar underscore the challenges of integrating 21st-century secular values with deeply held religious beliefs. While the attempt at interfaith outreach intended to foster inclusivity, it served as a reminder of the potential friction when religious sensitivities are not carefully navigated.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)