In recent years, the arrival of festivals in India has increasingly fell together with an increase in political heat. The political leaders from the ruling party begin to make municipal comments that are triggered to a cycle of accusations and counter -fighting between political leaders and public personalities from different political parties, which are often continued days after the ends. Significantly, this accused atmosphere is primarily about Hindu and Muslim festivals.
The result is often far more disturbing than mere rhetoric. In many cases, this voltage leads to violent outbreaks during the festive period. For example, take this year’s Holi. All over the country, There were numerous incidents of attacks on minorities and marginalized communities.
In the case of RAM Navami, municipal violence has almost become a routine affair in recent years. The pattern was accepted to the extent that many media no longer consider more than up -to -date. There have been several cases in which saffron flags during RAM Navami processions on mosques and Dargahs were raised, clear provocations that reflect the in -depth community polarization in the country.
Promotion of the community fire, especially while Ram Navami for the election gain
This year, too, the tradition of using festivals as an excuse to fuel community hatred was used. Before Ram Navami, a wave of politically charged statements had started in Westbengalen, with the leaders of the BJP and TMC involved in an exchanging public allocation. The BJP was based on incidents of violence against Hindus in neighboring Bangladesh and seemed to strategically shoot the common mood within India as part of its wider campaign for the elections for the assembly of Westbengalen.
Madrasa Azizia set fire to Madrasa Azizia in the Nalanda District in Bihar, India, during the Ram Navami Festival on March 31, 2023. © 2023 Sea Faisal/Maktoob
According to the BJP leaders, the RAM Navami processions were not only Religious events, but symbolic protests that underline alleged attacks on Hindus across the border and criticize what they described as the “appeasement policy of the TMC”.
Several social and political observers have previously expressed concerns about the municipal transformation of Hindu festivals. Remarkable among them are works such as how H-pop of Kunal Purohit and weapons of the Hindu festivals by Irfan engineer and Neha Dabhad. In addition to these the report entitled ” Westbengalen: Post Ram Navami Communal Riot (2016–23) The research organization Aamra – EK Sprayas continues to show how common violence in India, especially Hindu festivals such as Ram Navami, has intensified in recent years. Festivals that were once inclusive and solemn are increasingly becoming instruments of provocation and intimidation, especially against the Muslim community.
The report emphasizes how the Hindutva forces strategically co-opted the popular culture and religious processions in order to arouse hatred, provoke violence and polarize society. RAM Navami processions in particular are now often characterized by armed participants, abusive slogans and fire music. These processions are often deliberately led by Muslim locations to increase confrontation, with usually state -supported repression, including arbitrary arrests and the demolition of houses.
This worrying pattern has been particularly pronounced as part of the BJP regime since 2014, which reflects a wider strategy of the weapons festivals in order to found the majority dominance. The 142-page report, which was published by Harsh Mander-activist and founder of Karwan-e-Mohabbat-. It recommends to ban weapons and hate speeches in religious events, to prevent the strict enforcement of existing laws, to account for the authorities and to promote inter -religious harmony through cultural initiatives and Gandhian ideals in order to regain the original spirit of these festivals and to protect common peace.
The report focuses on incidents in Asansol-Raniganj, Howrah and Rishra and contains a detailed report on repeated joint flare-off in West Bengal in recent years and underlines the need for urgent and persistent measures.
Hindutva’s hyper-masculine revision of Hindu icons
An analysis of the research article entitled ” Men in the production of nations: understanding of the connection between nation, belonging and complicated masculinity Observes concerns about the rise of aggressive masculinity during the Ram Navami. According to this article, Ram Navami, which used to be a celebration of devotion and virtue, turned into a spectacle of power and has now developed as an exhibition of choreographed masculinity – loud, aggressive and territorial.
Source: Nurphoto / Imago
It is also emphasized how under the influence of Hindutva the figure of RAM is no longer the moral king of Ramayana, but an armed icon of strength and control. These processions are not organic religious meetings; They are carefully staged appearances who dominates the street, who has the nation’s story. With fluctuating swords and aggressive slogans, the public spaces are dominated by a certain community in the name of religion, in particular by the dominance of the Hindu male male dominance.
This hypermasculine power is not spontaneous; It is cultivated and maintained by state support, cultural reinforcements and social complicity. The divine is reinterpreted in the body of the muscular protector and modified as a symbol of strength instead of a god of virtue. Now he is represented in a form of male power to dominate not to lead. Hanuman was turned into an angry, muscular destroyer by a loyal servant. These pictures not only serve religious mood, but a political mobilization and present Hinduism as male, male power. The message is clear: being a “true” Hindu man is always to be-physical, culturally and municipal and the country for the struggle.
Observation with the conversion of Muslim sacred sites into Hindu shrines and Ram Navami
As in previous years, this RAM Navami saw incidents with municipal tensions in various parts of the country. Such a case was reported by Prayagraj, in which members of a Hindu group, Suheldeva Suraksha Samman, onto the roof of the Ghazi Miyan Dargah, whimper flags and called provocative slogans.
Source: NDTV
The group was led by Manendra Pratap Singh, Who describes himself as a student guide at Allahabad University on social mediaFormer President of Karni Sena, and BJP worker. He claimed since Salar Masood Ghazi was an intruder if there was no Dargah in Prayagraj And it should be torn down and turned into a place for the Hindu worship.
The police confirmed that the group disrupted peace at the location, which is visited by both Hindu and Muslim followers. Legal measures are taken, and department measures were initiated against the police officers who did not properly treat the situation.
In Maharashtra, an incident in Palghar The district triggered a short tension after unknown people allegedly thrown eggs on the participants of a RAM Navami motorcycle rally.
In Rawatpur from Kanpur District, tensions between the police and the Hindu organizations about the removal of speakers.
In Patna, authorities imposed a ban About the use of DJ systems during the RAM Navami, which leads to the confiscation of 26 DJ setups.
These measures were taken to prevent the game of provocative songs and activities, since similar topics have been reported during the RAM Navami celebrations in recent years.
Transform women into symbols for promoting community hatred
During the RAM Navami procession in Santa Cruz, Mumbai,Impending slogans and songs that were put together with municipal blur were played openly. A video that was shared by journalist Kunal Purohit documented this disturbing trend.
Source: The Independent
Playing vulgar, misogynistic songs during religious processions has become worryingly common. The objectification of women is so deeply rooted in our society that even events that are called “sacred” are not spared. Such songs are played openly in these processions, and the crowd often leads to public harassment and EVA hits. The latest incident in Mumbai is a strong memory of this reality. It clearly shows how the burden of the so -called “honor” of a community is wrongly set up on women. The harassment of women becomes one of the most insidious tools to psychologically destabilize and humiliate an entire community.
People in the procession called offensive slogans over the Mogul -Herrercher Aurangzeb and played vulgar songs, some of whom threatened violent attacks on Muslims.
Kunal Purohit highlighted“Every few minutes, a guy would come on and galvanise the crowds with slogans like“ Jisko Chahiye Afzal Khan, Usko Bhejo Pakistan (WHOEVER WANTS AFZAL KHAND Be Sent to Pakistan), ”Aurangzeb Ki Qabar Khudegi, MA, MA Ch*Degi (Aurangzeb’s Grave will be dug up, “Followed by repeated vulgar abuses in relation to sexual violence against your own mother.”
He added: “The police were present all the time. But in the hours I spent, I saw no effort to hold back (the Rowdies), these songs are so far known that most of them danced with the exact beats. The pace rose every time a song had an explicit goal of Muslims.”
These processions, which are supposed to be religious events, are increasingly being used to spread hatred and aim for women. The open use of vulgar, abusive songs and public harassment shows how women are deliberately given goals to insult and intimidating entire communities. If the threats of sexual violence are shouted without fear and the crowd goes hand in hand, it is clear that women are not only bothered. They are used as tools in a larger game of hatred and strength.