In recent years, there have been several incidents across Bharat where schools have faced backlash for forcing Hindu students to participate in Eid celebrations. These incidents have sparked debates regarding the boundaries of cultural exchange and religious sensitivity in educational institutions.

Here are such incidents:

• The Delhi Public School (DPS) in Gurugram announced a virtual Dargah tour for grade 1 and 2 students, aiming to help them ‘understand the significance’ of Eid. This move has sparked controversy, with some accusing DPS of indoctrinating Hindu children with Muslim culture.

• The incident at Gyansthali Public School in Sirmaur involved the management instructing nursery children to wear hijab and Islamic caps for an Eid program. This led to criticism from Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, who protested against the school’s actions. The management admitted its mistake and promised not to repeat it. This incident is part of a larger pattern where schools, including Ganga Jamna School in Damoh and a private school in Guna, have forced Hindu students to participate in Islamic practices.

• In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, a private school faced controversy when students were asked to “perform” namaz in a lesson on practices of all religions, including Eid. This led to protests by Hindu right-wing groups, after which the management apologized, clarifying that no student was forced to participate and that the activity was meant to ‘educate’ students about different forms of prayer across religions. The incident sparked an investigation by the Gujarat government, with the state Education Minister expressing concern about maintaining peace and harmony.

• In Damoh and Guna, Madhya Pradesh, controversies arose when Hindu students were coerced to participate in Islamic practices, including wearing hijabs, reciting Islamic prayers, and singing Islamic songs during cultural events celebrating Eid. These incidents sparked protests by Hindu activists, leading to the principal and teacher’s suspension at Prince Global Private School in Guna. Despite the school’s Hindu management, activists criticized the propagation of Islamic religion in an educational setting and raised concerns about the students’ exposure to Islam through such events.

• In Mehsana district, Gujarat, a school issued an apology for celebrating the Muslim festival Eid al Adha on its premises, which was perceived as hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community. The administration expressed regret, stating that they did not intend to offend any religion and assured that such events would not occur in the future. The apology followed protests by some parents and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad against the celebrations, with videos of the protests circulating on social media.

• In Channarayapatna town, Karnataka, Jnanasagara International School faced criticism for making Hindu and Christian students recite Quranic verses during Bakri Eid celebrations. Videos of the incident went viral, prompting Hindu activists to protest. The management clarified that while a few Muslim students performed namaz, others were not forced to recite Quranic verses.

• In Mundra, Gujarat, the principal of Pearl School of Excellence and Value Education was suspended after a video surfaced showing students wearing skull caps while performing a play on Eid-al-Adha. The District Primary Education Officer deemed it a “lowly act” to ask Hindu students to wear Muslim skull caps. The administration apologized for any offence caused and assured that such activities would not occur in the future.

• In Dehradun, members of the Bajrang Dal protested outside a private school, alleging that non-Muslim students were forced to celebrate Eid. The school deleted videos of the Eid celebrations from its social media page following the protest. This incident follows a similar protest at another school in Doon, where right-wing groups accused the management of forcing students to celebrate Eid but not allowing them to play Holi. The protests highlight tensions over cultural celebrations in educational institutions, with some parents claiming their children were compelled to participate in Eid activities.

• A school in Dehradun was damaged after students performed a skit on Eid as part of their “secular celebrations.” The school was vandalized, with windows broken and furniture damaged. The incident occurred following complaints from parents and local organizations, alleging that students were forced to participate in Eid celebrations and learn Urdu. The management clarified that such activities are part of their regular assemblies and that Urdu is not part of their syllabus.

• In Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, the principal and two teachers of BLS International School were suspended following a campaign by Hindu organisations. They alleged that students were asked to offer Namaz during Eid celebrations inside the premises. The management clarified that the event was part of commemorating World Heritage Day and Eid ul Fitr, where students performed a song. The local administration has ordered an inquiry into the matter, and the principal has been suspended.

• In Bengaluru, the Karnataka Wakf Board requested the state education department to allow Muslim students to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi in schools. However, the education minister stated that no religious functions are permitted in educational institutions, and the demand will not be considered. The Wakf Board also requested a separate room to perform Namaz.

• In Prayagraj, an FIR was filed against the principal of Nyaya Nagar Public School for hurting religious sentiments by asking students to post 20-second videos wearing “Eid attire” and wish “Happy Eid” as part of a school activity. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and several Hindu organizations have demanded the principal’s arrest, threatening protests otherwise.

• In Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa, St. Pius missionary school is scrutinised for organizing a Kalma and Quran reading program during the assembly before Bakra Eid. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) filed a complaint, leading to an inquiry by the district education department.

• In Tauru town, Haryana, Green Dales Public School was fined Rs 5 lakh by a panchayat for organizing an Eid assembly that sparked protests and threats. The panchayat ordered Green Dales to dismiss Muslim staff and students, require female students to wear salwar kameez, and ban fee hikes for two years. The educational institution denied accusations of propagating Islam.