Wanna Dance Garba? First, Drink Cow Urine and Worship Varaha!

As the vibrant season of Navratri approaches, preparations for Garba festivities are in full swing. But this year, organizers have introduced some “creative” ideas to keep things sanskari and safe—think of it as a "holy barrier" to potential troublemakers.

Last year, some rowdy behavior by non-Hindu youths at Garba pandals led to a rather bold solution—sprinkling cow urine around the pandals to purify the space. And if that wasn't quirky enough, the next suggestion was even more unique: only those who drink cow urine would be allowed inside the pandals!

But wait, the story doesn't end here. This year, there's a fresh twist! Now, the "golden ticket" to Garba isn't just the holy sprinkle or sip—you have to worship Lord Vishnu's Varaha avatar (yes, the boar incarnation). Apparently, this is the latest idea to ensure that non-Hindus, especially Muslims, don’t sneak into the pandals.

Now, you might be wondering—what's the connection between Varaha and Garba security? Let’s break it down. Varaha, one of Lord Vishnu’s avatars, is revered in Hindu mythology. But in Islam, the pig (which Varaha represents) is considered haram (forbidden). So, the idea is that Muslims wouldn’t want to worship Varaha and would, therefore, stay away from the pandals.

But how does worshipping Varaha ensure Garba remains "sacred"? Well, according to BJP leader Raghunandan Sharma, Varaha's presence at the pandals is like a divine no-entry sign for non-Hindus. “Muslims would naturally steer clear of any place that venerates the boar form of Vishnu,” Sharma explains.

This new rule is getting mixed reactions. On one hand, there's support for stricter security measures following years of incidents where women faced harassment and pandals were targeted with stone-pelting. These incidents often involved non-Hindu youths, particularly Muslim boys. On the other hand, many find the Varaha-worship idea extreme and absurd.

And here's the real kicker—Muslim youths have openly said, "Nah, we’re not going anymore." One even mentioned, "We used to go for fun, but this? Nope."

So, the stage is set: Garba with a side of Varaha worship and a sprinkle of cow urine. Whether these measures actually work in keeping the pandals peaceful and free of disruptions is yet to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: Navratri 2024 is off to a quirky start!