World · India Bureau
Mystery posters warning of 'love jihad' appear at Rajkot garba venues
Anonymous posters bearing warnings about 'love jihad' have been discovered outside several garba pandals in Gujarat's Rajkot city during the Navratri festival season. The placards, posted overnight, bear no organizational insignia or identifying information.
LSN India ·
Rajkot is preparing to host approximately 48 modern rasa-garba events this season, but the festive atmosphere has been punctuated by the appearance of cautionary posters outside select venues. The notices, which surfaced during nighttime hours, carry messages warning attendees about 'love jihad'—a term used to describe alleged religious conversion through marriage.
Authorities have yet to identify who placed the posters or establish any connection to organized groups or individuals. The anonymous nature of the postings has raised concerns among event organizers and civic officials monitoring the Navratri celebrations across the city.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in some parts of India surrounding interfaith relationships, which have become a flashpoint for social and political discourse. Rajkot's police and municipal authorities have not issued formal statements regarding the posters or any investigation into their origin.
Garba and rasa are traditional Gujarati folk dances performed during Navratri, drawing large crowds of participants and spectators. The festival celebrations typically run for nine days and represent a significant cultural event across the state.