Cow urine sprinkling at Garba events

As Navratri sets in, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal (BD) have once again sounded their warning against non-Hindus participating in the Garba festivities.

The VHP has demanded that the entrants to the Garba grounds be applied tilak on their foreheads and be sprinkled with cow urine before being allowed into the ground as a way of separating the Hindus from the non-Hindus, said Hitendrasinh Rajput, spokesperson, Gujarat VHP. This demand has been made since 2015 with pressure growing every passing year.

More than one BJP legislator of the state has already asked Garba organisers to apply tilaks on the foreheads of men entering the Garba grounds as a protection against alleged "love jihad". Rajput told ET that BD members will keep a vigil to ensure that no non-Hindu enter the Garba venues.