While Gujaratis and Indians are celebrating Garba season across the world, we came across an outrageous incident. Hinduism is a religion that asks to respect all other religions equally, and we have seen people from all religions celebrating and taking active participation in festivals of all religions including Hinduism in India over the years. But an incident we came across today is outrageous.
Couple of Indians were denied entry to a Garba event in a temple, Shakti Mandir in Atlanta (USA) apparently because they did not look like Hindus and their last name did not sound like Hindus to the organizers according to a tweet by Gujarati living in USA, Karan Jani. Karan and his friends kept convincing the organizers, but the organizers ganged up on them and forced them to leave.
In a series of tweets, Karan described entire incident. His friends were excited to attend Garba event for the first time, but unfortunately they were made to leave. One of the organizers also said,
“We don’t come to your events, you are not allowed to ours.”
Karan has been attending Shakti Mandir for last six years. But he was shocked and saddened to see discrimination by the event organizers.
Take a look at the tweets.
1.
Year 2018 & Shakti Mandir in Atlanta, USA denied me and my friends entry from playing garba because:
“You don’t look Hindu and last name in your IDs don’t sound Hindu”
-THREAD- pic.twitter.com/lLVq4KhJtw
— Dr. Karan Jani (@AstroKPJ) October 13, 2018
2.
My Konkani friend who came to Garba for 1st time *due to enthusiasm of us Gujaratis* was pulled out of line & was told:
“We don’t come to your events, you are not allowed to ours”
She: “My last name is Murdeshwar. I’m Kannada-Marathi!”
Him: “What is Kannada? You are Ismaili”
— Dr. Karan Jani (@AstroKPJ) October 13, 2018
3.
My other friends last name had “Dangarwala”. We spoke in Gujarati to them.
They still said we were “Vohra, Sindhis”. They actually kept stating other religions!!
They ganged up and told us to leave.
While we saw other non-Indians being entered (which they of course should!)
— Dr. Karan Jani (@AstroKPJ) October 13, 2018
4.
Our IDs had Indian Emblem. Yes emblem with “Satyamev Jayate” right?
Apparently, it didn’t have our religion. Our caste.
It was embarrassing. I had tears in my eyes saying them:
“I come here to play Garba for last 6 years. How could you not let us in because of last name”
— Dr. Karan Jani (@AstroKPJ) October 13, 2018
5.
I was told by that organizer, a senior person, things in Gujarati which are so crude & demeaning that it can’t be shared on public forum. Just to ensure we don’t dare to enter the temple again.
Such fuss just for Garba in Navratri – With friends – to celebrate Indian culture?
— Dr. Karan Jani (@AstroKPJ) October 13, 2018
6.
I have been to this temple for 6 years. Every navratri. I’m equally shocked and embarrassed. https://t.co/SDTzTWrquv
— Dr. Karan Jani (@AstroKPJ) October 13, 2018
While festivals are the only way Indians can stay in touch with their roots out of India, incidents like this are really unfortunate and threat to our culture.
People should boycott or at least protest against such narrow minded folks.
(Featured photo courtesy)