Actor Abhay Shukla, known for playing Inspector Nikhil in the popular television serial CID, has criticised the commercialisation of Navratri celebrations and called for stricter regulations on Garba events in Gujarat. Speaking during the ‘Shakti Spandan 2026’ traditional Garbi festival in Junagadh, he urged the state government to take action against what he described as inappropriate performances, revealing outfits and loud DJ music at party plots.
Addressing the event organised by the Samasta Vanik Yuva Sangathan, Shukla said that Garba celebrations at party plots had increasingly become commercial events rather than traditional forms of devotion. He alleged that business activities were being conducted in the name of Mataji and that some performances were inappropriate for a religious festival.
Calls for Restrictions Similar to Uttar Pradesh
Shukla cited the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh and called on the Gujarat government and administration to introduce stricter restrictions on party-plot Garba events, loud DJ systems and what he considers inappropriate clothing.
He said Navratri should not be limited to dancing and entertainment, but should also preserve the traditions and devotional significance of worshipping Maa Shakti.
Claims Phone Call From Pakistan Raised Concerns
Shukla also shared an account of a phone call he claimed to have received two days earlier from a person named Adil in Pakistan. According to the actor, the caller questioned the way some people celebrate Navratri at party plots, comparing it with the observance of festivals through fasting and discipline.
Shukla said the conversation left him without an answer and expressed concern that the conduct of some participants was drawing criticism of Hindu traditions.
Appeals to Return to Traditional Garba
The actor urged young people to avoid commercial party-plot events and revive traditional Garba celebrations in neighbourhoods and residential societies. He encouraged organisers to bring back traditional practices, including Mataji’s mandvi and community-based Garba.
He also appealed to parents to pay attention to the clothing worn by children participating in Garba, saying that celebrations should reflect the religious and cultural values associated with Navratri.
Shukla’s remarks have highlighted the ongoing debate over the balance between modern commercial Garba events and the preservation of traditional religious customs during Navratri.