Chhattisgarh waqf board chief asks Muslims to 'maintain distance' from Garba

RAIPUR: In the wake of call for keeping “non-Hindus” from participating in Navratri and other celebrations, Chhattisgarh Waqf Board chairman Salim Raj issued a special appeal to Muslim youth, urging them to “either keep away from Hindu religious events or show respect to the sanctity of these festivals and maintain peace and harmony.”He also asked them “not to visit garba grounds with wrong intention.” “If the Muslim community does not believe in idol worship, they should stay away from religious events like the garba,” Raj said, in a written statement issued on Tuesday.Raj urged those who wished to participate in any Hindu festival to obtain permission from organisers, wear traditional attire and follow customs.Chhattisgarh Waqf Board chairman Salim Raj issued a special appeal to Muslim youths, urging them to respect the sanctity of the Hindu festival and maintain peace and harmony in the state.Raj added that if any Muslim brothers or sisters wish to participate with due respect to traditional attire and customs, and with the committee’s permission, then there would be no objection. “But any attempt to enter garba venues with wrong intentions or create disturbances hurts Hindu sentiments and risks damaging communal harmony,” he said.Raj said Navratri is a sacred celebration in which millions of devotee worship Goddess Jagdamba and take part in garba and other religious programmes. “Garba is not just an ordinary dance performance. It is a devotional folk dance dedicated to Goddess Durga, symbolising the cycle of life and her immense power. If members of the Muslim community do not believe in idol worship, they should refrain from participating in such religious events,” he stated.Calling for restraint, the Waqf Board chief appealed to Muslim youths to stay away from activities that could disturb the festival atmosphere. “Chhattisgarh is known for its Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (composite culture). We must honour this tradition and preserve peace, brotherhood, and harmony. Islam is a religion of peace, and we must prioritise the state’s unity and social cohesion above all,” Raj said.