Protest in Sanganer, Bhilwara: Hindu Community Boycotts Festival in Unique Way

Bhilwara: The Hindu community in the highly sensitive Sanganer town of Bhilwara staged a unique protest against a festival celebrated by a particular community. In a symbolic gesture, Hindu residents tied black bands on their homes and left the town to gather at a temple, where they sang devotional songs and shared a communal meal. The protest has sparked concerns within the local administration.

Tensions in Sanganer escalated after an incident a few days ago, where members of a specific community allegedly pelted stones during a Ganesh pandal celebration. Despite reporting the incident, no action was taken by the authorities, leading to widespread anger among the Hindu community. In response, the Hindu residents decided to boycott the festival of the other community by tying black bands on their homes and assembling at the Devanarayan temple, located two kilometers outside the town. There, they engaged in devotional singing and a collective meal, demanding swift action against the perpetrators. They also called for a halt to the religious processions of the other community passing through their neighborhoods.

Former Sanganer ward councilor, Raju Jangid, stated, "The Muslim community repeatedly disrupts our religious activities. A few days ago, they threw stones at the Ganesh pandal, and today we are boycotting their festival in protest. We have tied black bands and gathered at the Devanarayan temple to sing bhajans and share a meal. We demand that their processions be restricted from passing through our localities, just as our processions are restricted from passing through theirs."

Local residents Shyam Lal Kharol and Manju Kabra added, "The stone-pelting at the Ganesh pandal has angered the entire community. Whenever we celebrate our festivals, they create disturbances, either through stone-pelting or by inciting police action. That's why we've boycotted their festival today. We urge the government to protect us from this harassment."