Gujarati folk singer Aditya Gadhvi has publicly distanced himself from a controversial announcement made at his garba performance in Ahmedabad on Wednesday night, in which non-Hindus and Muslims were asked to leave the venue. Gadhvi said his stage was used to deliver a message that did not represent his views, and that he had no prior knowledge of the appeal.

What Happened at the Venue

The incident unfolded during the 'Rang Morla ft. Aditya Gadhvi' programme at Savvana Party Plot on Shela Road, Ahmedabad. Anchor and radio jockey Akash Trivedi made a public appeal from the stage, requesting any 'vidharmi (non-Hindus)' and Muslims to leave the ground, citing the presence of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) to protect Sanatan Dharma. A video of the announcement circulated widely on social media, drawing sharp criticism.

Gadhvi's Clarification

In an Instagram statement, Gadhvi said neither his team nor the anchor had consulted him before making the appeal. He alleged that a group had taken control of the backstage area and used his platform to convey the exclusionary message without his consent. 'A few words from me, because a lot is being said in my name. I am an artist. I am a proud Hindu. Navratri is the most sacred time of my year, and standing on a stage singing for Maa Ambe in front of thousands of people dancing garba is the greatest blessing of my life,' he wrote. He added: 'My stage is for music and for devotion,' and stated that anyone who came to participate in garba with love and respect for Maa Durga was welcome.

VHP and Bajrang Dal's Role

A VHP leader defended the intervention, describing it as part of a routine exercise undertaken by Bajrang Dal volunteers at garba events across Gujarat. 'We remove suspicious people from the ground,' the leader said, according to reports. Bajrang Dal volunteers had reportedly visited the Rang Morla programme and asked the organisers to prevent non-Hindus from entering before the stage announcement was made.

Gadhvi on Garba's Inclusive Tradition

In his statement, Gadhvi invoked garba's longstanding tradition of communal harmony. 'For generations, people of every faith in Gujarat and across India have played garba side by side, and that is what makes it ours,' he said, adding that the traditional dance 'had never asked anyone for their surname.' He concluded with 'Jai Ambe', reiterating that his platform was intended for music and devotion, not for excluding participants on religious grounds.

Wider Context

The episode comes amid recurring controversies over the exclusion of non-Hindus from garba events during Navratri in Gujarat and other states in recent years. Organisations such as the VHP and Bajrang Dal have carried out similar interventions at multiple venues, making this part of a broader and contentious pattern rather than an isolated incident. Critics argue such moves undermine the syncretic character of a festival that UNESCO recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2023.