In recent months, multiple disturbing incidents of Islamist aggression targeting Hindus have surfaced across Bharat and parts of the subcontinent, especially during major Hindu festivals such as Navaratri and Durga Puja. These attacks go beyond sporadic violence—they tend to be systematic attempts to disrupt Hindu religious practices, intimidate Hindu communities, and assert Islamist dominance in public spaces.
Navaratri Violence and Attacks on Hindu Religious Events
Navaratri, a festival celebrated with devotion and vibrant Garba dance festivities, witnessed several orchestrated disruptions and violent assaults across various states. In Gujarat’s Gandhinagar, communal tension escalated when an “I Love Muhammad” status circulated on social media sparked Islamist mobs to attack Garba pandals and shops, engage in stone pelting, and cause arson. Police intervened and arrested 70 individuals implicated in the violence. Other parts of Gujarat also saw unrest after the circulation of an AI-generated image mocking Mecca and Medina, resulting in riots, vandalism of pandals, and injuries to police officers.
In Maharashtra, leaked WhatsApp chats revealed Muslim students plotting to infiltrate Garba events specifically to target Hindu girls, with chilling plans that stated “Not a single Hindu girl should be spared.” Similar incidents of Muslim youths using fake Hindu names to enter Garba venues and harass women were reported in Rajasthan’s Banswara and Bikaner districts, with some cases leading to stone pelting and injuries.
In Kanpur and Chhattisgarh, Muslim youths were caught inside pandals making obscene remarks and harassing participants, all despite explicit bans on non-Hindu entry. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other Hindu organizations responded by instituting strict entry rules for Garba events, including identity verification, religious rituals upon entry, and outright denial of access to non-Hindus to prevent further incidents.
Mumbai also suffered communal violence when a Durga statue was vandalized near a mosque, with the priest and Hindu devotees attacked by an Islamist mob wielding sharp weapons. In Madhya Pradesh’s Burhanpur district, a Durga immersion procession devolved into stone-pelting violence after Islamic fundamentalists objected to the loud music, injuring several and damaging an murti.
Beyond physical attacks, Hindu awareness campaigns against love jihad and religious conversions gained traction during these festivities. Efforts such as displaying posters warning Hindu girls about the perils of love jihad became common in Garba venues across Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, highlighting the community’s growing anxiety and response to Islamist predation.
Other Notable Communal Incidents
Hindus also suffered harassment and violence in routine spaces. In Aligarh, a young Hindu nursing student went missing, suspected to have been abducted by an Islamist man working with her.
An incident in Dehradun involved a Muslim man forcibly applying vermilion to a Hindu minor girl’s forehead and attempting to kidnap her, only stopped by vigilant locals. In Gorakhpur, a man was caught trying to forcibly take away a Hindu woman disguised in burqa, reflecting ongoing challenges related to interfaith safety and love jihad. Activists opposing illegal cattle slaughter and cow smuggling have also been viciously attacked by Islamist mobs in places like Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Attacks Across Borders: Bangladesh and Kashmir
The persecution of Hindus is not confined to Bharat alone. In Bangladesh, Hindu minorities continue to face relentless attacks including temple desecration, land grabbing, murder, and forced conversions, aiming at systematic religious cleansing. These attacks have elevated fears of potential Hindu extinction in Bangladesh by mid-century. Recent incidents include the brutal murder of a Hindu man near a police station and vandalism of Hindu property.
In Kashmir, the heinous 2025 Pahalgam attack exemplifies religiously targeted violence. Militants separated Hindu tourists from Muslims, forcing Hindus to recite Islamic verses as a pretext to identify and kill them. Several Hindu newlyweds and families were massacred, with terrorists filming their atrocities. This attack underscores the grave dangers facing Hindus even in tourist and pilgrimage spots.
Summary and Reflection
The pattern from these months points to a deliberate, widespread campaign by Islamist elements to disrupt Hindu religious life through violence, intimidation, and societal disruption. Whether during major festivals like Navaratri or in everyday civic life, Hindus face physical assaults, harassment, forced conversions, and threats to their cultural identity. Hindu organizations are actively working to safeguard their communities by erecting physical, social, and legal barriers to protect against these threats. Nevertheless, the rising tide of Islamist aggression demands heightened awareness and stronger protective measures for Hindus both in Bharat and abroad.
