Ahmedabad, October 16, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Gujarati folk singer Aditya Gadhvi has distanced himself from a controversial announcement asking non-Hindus and Muslims to leave a garba event in Ahmedabad, saying a group took control of the backstage area and used his platform to convey a message that did not reflect his views.
The controversy erupted during the ‘Rang Morla ft. Aditya Gadhvi’ programme at Savvana Party Plot on Shela Road on Wednesday night, when anchor and radio jockey Akash Trivedi appealed to non-Hindus and Muslims to leave the venue, citing the presence of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) to protect Sanatan Dharma.
A video of the announcement went viral on social media, triggering criticism and prompting Gadhvi to clarify his position through an Instagram statement.
“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,” the singer said.
Gadhvi maintained that the announcement was neither his decision nor his message. He alleged that a group had taken over the backstage area and used his stage to make the appeal without consulting him or his team.
Emphasising that his platform was meant for music and devotion, the singer said everyone who came to participate in garba with love and respect for Maa Durga was welcome.
In the viral video, Trivedi is heard making “a humble request to any ‘vidharmi (non-Hindus)’ and Muslims to leave the ground”, before stating that the VHP had arrived to protect Sanatan Dharma.
A VHP leader defended the intervention, describing it as part of a routine exercise carried out 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 visited the programme on Wednesday and asked the organisers to prevent non-Hindus from entering the venue. The announcement was subsequently made from the stage.
In his statement, Gadhvi also highlighted garba’s tradition of bringing people from different communities together, pushing back against attempts to associate the cultural celebration with religious exclusion.
“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.
The singer concluded his statement with “Jai Ambe”, reiterating that his stage was intended for music and devotion rather than excluding participants on religious grounds.
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