Here is you may have to take a sip of cow urine to enter Garba pandals in MP
A local BJP leader in Madhya Pradesh has suggested that people wanting to enter Garba pandals during the Navratri festival should be made to sip "gaumutra" (cow urine) first. BJP Indore district president Chintu Verma on Monday made the suggestion, arguing that Hindus will not refuse this precondition.
'Cow urine should be offered as aachman'??
According to Verma, cow urine should be offered as "aachman," which has great significance in Sanatan culture.?According to Hindu customs, aachman means taking a sip of water while reciting mantras for purification before starting religious rituals.
"We have requested organisers to ensure devotees do aachman with cow urine before allowing them to enter Garba pandals," Verma said.
'Aadhaar can be faked'
Explaining the reason behind his suggestion, Verma said Aadhaar cards, which have become mandatory for entry at some Garba events in the state, can be faked.
"Aadhaar cards can be edited. However, if a person is a Hindu, he will enter the Garba pandal only after aachman of cow urine, and there is no question of refusing it," he said.
Reacting to the demand, MP Congress spokesman Neelabh Shukla said BJP leaders should first sip cow urine before entering pandals and post videos on social media.
Why non-Hindus are not allowed at Garba
In the past too, several Garba pandals have refused entry to non-Hindus and made verification of Aadhaar cards and the wearing of tilaks mandatory for entry.
Many right-wing groups have argued that since Garba is part of Navratri celebrations, which is part of the Hindu faith, non-believers should not be allowed at such events for 'entertainment' purposes.
Many have also alleged that Muslim youths enter Garba pandals pretending to be Hindus to spread 'love jihad.'
In December 2023, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognised Garba on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
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