{"id":296207,"date":"2025-03-28T12:32:05","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T07:02:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/?p=296207"},"modified":"2025-04-04T15:26:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T09:56:01","slug":"violence-against-women-and-religious-minorities-take-front-seat-this-holi-up-leads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.altnews.in\/english-clone-2026\/violence-against-women-and-religious-minorities-take-front-seat-this-holi-up-leads\/","title":{"rendered":"Holi 2025: Consent goes for a toss again; violence against women, religious minorities takes front seat"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Holi this year, Congress-ruled Telangana became an easy target for the Opposition. Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party went all guns blazing after the Hyderabad and Cyberabad police issued directives on March 13 prohibiting “throwing colours or coloured water on unwilling<\/strong> persons, places and vehicles or smearing unwilling<\/strong> people with colour, on public roads and public places”. They also imposed restrictions on the movement of vehicles in groups.<\/p>\n

The prohibitory order was in effect from 6 pm, March 13 to 6 am, March 15 in Hyderabad and from 6 am, March 14 to 6 am, March 15 in Cyberabad<\/span>.<\/p>\n

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Hyderabad Police and Cyberabad Police have issued a notification prohibiting throwing colours or coloured water on unwilling persons, places and vehicles or smearing unwilling people with colour, on public roads and public places in Hyderabad city and Cyberabad causing annoyance.\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/X735PQX3md<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A video statement<\/a> of BJP MLA T Raja Singh was aired by several news channels where he called the notification a “Tughlaq-like decree”. \u201c…Ramzan lasts for 30 days, and during the night, large groups of people ride bikes and move around in crowds. Does the ninth Nizam of Telangana, Revanth Reddy, not see this? Do the police officers not notice the nuisance that takes place in Hyderabad during Ramzan?” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YqTe_1p5gyg?si=1Lpq36i8n4XJaDSl&start=51]<\/p>\n

Republic TV called<\/a> it a ‘ban on Holi celebrations’ with BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla telling the channel that the orders by the Congress, which he called a party with a ‘Talibani’ mindset, were ‘absurd’ and ‘unheard of’.<\/p>\n

“Where should a Hindu celebrate? Should he celebrate Hindus’ festival Holi etc in Afghanistan? Should he celebrate in Pakistan? Or should we celebrate in India?” Poonawalla was heard saying in a clip aired on News18<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8koHoM-xSNk?si=KsZfVuUmx2HbVe7C&controls=0&start=46]<\/p>\n

Social media users who, in their bios, align with the Right also made a big deal about these notices. X user @MrSinha_, whose posts have shown explicit support for the BJP, expressed displeasure<\/a> that throwing water or colour on a stranger would land one in jail. This person<\/span> equated the Congress’ orders to Sharia. Sharia is a set of religious regulations under Islam that governs the lives of Muslims. It is equivalent to Islamic law.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In Hyderabad, if you throw water or color on an unknown person or go out in a group, you’ll be arrested.<\/p>\n

No, I’m not talking about Pakistani Hyderabad; I’m talking about Congress-ruled Telangana state’s Hyderabad….<\/p>\n

Congress = Sharia…!!<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) March 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Also Read: Suresh Chavhanke to Raushan Sinha \u2014 BJP\u2019s \u2018unofficial IT cell\u2019 rewarded with invite to Modi swearing-in<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Another prominent X account frequently promoting Right-wing ideology, @MeghUpdates, also shared the notice<\/a> with a veiled jibe against the Congress.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Welcome to Congress Ruled Telangana \ud83d\ude31<\/p>\n

The Telangana police have issued a strict warning regarding the celebration of Holi.<\/p>\n

Throwing colors or colored water on unwilling individuals, vehicles, or public places, as well as engaging in group bike or car rides, may result in\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/M93bNIyfOL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Megh Updates \ud83d\udea8\u2122 (@MeghUpdates) March 12, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It’s not uncommon for parties to attack each other over ideologies. Often, festivals and important socio-cultural events are a good opportunity to do so.<\/p>\n

Also Read: \u2018Body in fridge\u2019 tableau in Munger Shivratri rally: Islamophobia & hate trounced devotion & piety?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s a separate matter that those mentioned above took little notice of similar directives issued in districts of other states, such as Bihar<\/a>, Maharashtra<\/a>, Uttar Pradesh<\/a>, Punjab<\/a>, Odisha<\/a>\u2014four of which are BJP-ruled states.<\/p>\n

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Propaganda RW website @OpIndia_com<\/a> @UnSubtleDesi<\/a> are regularly running their propaganda. The notice was not just issued by @CPHydCity<\/a>. A similar police notice was issued by police from Maharashtra, Odisha and UP. But the RW is concentrating on Telangana Police circular. pic.twitter.com\/PdIgZhPH6r<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) March 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In Telangana’s case, it’s clear that the police barred those celebrating Holi from enforcing it on those who did not want to indulge in it.<\/span> ‘Unwilling’ is a key word here.<\/p>\n

However, going by the reactions of social media users, there seems to be some struggle in understanding the concept of consent. They also remained inconsistent about whether or not they want non-Hindus to participate in Hindu festivals because, based on their reactions, there is a lot of disbelief over the prohibition on applying colours to unknown and unwilling individuals. After all, the festival comes with the catchphrase,<\/span>\u00a0“Bura na maano, Holi hai!<\/i>\u201d (Don\u2019t take offence, it\u2019s Holi!)<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s surprising how much the directive seems to have irked and offended the above-mentioned BJP leaders and pro-Right users. These reactions, coupled with instances of violence, gender-based harassment and minorities being targeted, beg the question: Is the idea of consent so extraneous to Holi? <\/span><\/p>\n

On one hand, the Right wing felt these notifications stifled their Holi celebrations, and on the other hand, reports of violence surfaced across the country against individuals who refused to play Holi.<\/p>\n

Marred by Violence: <\/b>A Bloody Holi\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n

In Uttar Pradesh\u2019s Moradabad, one <\/span>person was accidentally shot when a man tried to shoot his friend <\/span><\/a>for not hugging him over fear of being sullied by Holi colours.<\/p>\n

According to a news report by <\/a>UP Tak, this incident took place when an intoxicated <\/span>Abhishek Thakur took aim at his friend<\/span> Sanjay Kumar Arya with a pistol while another man, Akshay, was present there. Thakur, who was smeared with Holi colours, wanted to hug his friend Arya. The latter reportedly refused because he had just cleaned himself up after playing Holi and didn’t want colours on himself again. This enraged Thakur, who rushed home to get his pistol and came back to shoot Arya. However, he mistakenly shot Akshay. A video of the incident viral on social media shows the injured Akshay crying in pain while Thakur is seen reloading his pistol to take another shot before being tackled by two others present at the scene.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u0909\u0924\u094d\u0924\u0930 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0926\u0947\u0936 \u0915\u0947 \u092e\u0941\u0930\u093e\u0926\u093e\u092c\u093e\u0926 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0905\u0915\u094d\u0937\u092f \u0917\u0941\u092a\u094d\u0924\u093e \u0915\u094b \u092a\u093f\u0938\u094d\u091f\u0932 \u0938\u0947 \u091b\u094b\u091f\u0942 \u0920\u093e\u0915\u0941\u0930 \u0928\u0947 \u0917\u094b\u0932\u0940 \u092e\u093e\u0930 \u0926\u093f\u092f\u093e\u0964<\/p>\n

\u0905\u0915\u094d\u0937\u092f \u0928\u0939\u093e \u091a\u0941\u0915\u093e \u0925\u093e\u0964\u0909\u0938\u0928\u0947 \u091b\u094b\u091f\u0942 \u0938\u0947 \u0939\u094b\u0932\u0940 \u0916\u0947\u0932\u0928\u0947 \u0938\u0947 \u092e\u0928\u093e \u0915\u0930 \u0926\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0925\u093e\u0964 pic.twitter.com\/tYmhvjWjNl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Suresh Singh (@sureshsinghj) March 14, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In Rajasthan\u2019s Dausa district, a <\/span>25-year-old man was allegedly strangled to death<\/span> for refusing to play Holi. According to a report from The Times of India<\/a>, this man, Hansraj, was studying for competitive exams at the local library when three men\u2014Ashok, Bablu and Kaluram\u2014came there to apply colours on him. When Hansraj refused, the trio thrashed him with belts. One of them strangled him to death.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Guwahati, Assam, a 40-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death for resisting colours on Holi<\/a>. According to police<\/a>, four men\u2014Tabu Das, Bekra, Nripendra Chandra Biswas, and Subhash Roy\u2014were drinking together on Holi before a heated argument broke out. Tabu Das was attacked by Bekra. He was later apprehended by the Guwahati police and identified as Pintu Roy.<\/p>\n

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Holi Festivities Turn Bloody in Guwahati: Man Stabbed to Death for Resisting Colours in Garchuk<\/p>\n

Holi festivities turned bloody at Garchuk in Guwahati after a person was stabbed to death for resisting applying Holi. As per information, the victim identified as 35-year-old Tabu Das was attacked with a sharp weapon by accused Nripen Chandra Das. Tabu succumbed to multiple stab injuries. In a feat of rage, the accused also attacked another person.<\/p>\n

#holi2025 #holi #garchuk #murder #assam #guwahati #assampolice #northeastlive<\/p>\n

Assam Police DGPAssamPolice<\/p>\n

Posted by Northeast Live<\/a> on Saturday 15 March 2025<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

On March 21, three persons were arrested in Maharashtra\u2019s <\/span>Thane in connection with an alleged murder<\/span><\/a> that took place on Holi. The slain man, Satyaprakash Upadhyaya, was celebrating Holi when a scuffle broke out between him and three other men. These men then allegedly shoved a water hose into his pants, causing severe internal injuries. Upadhyaya was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to injuries on March 17.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Madhya Pradesh’s Maihar district, a 64-year-old man, Munna Kewat, died after being attacked by neighbours on Holi over the volume of music. According to an NDTV report<\/a>, loud music was being played during Holi celebrations; Munna Kewat’s son, Shankar, asked the neighbours to lower the volume as his children had exams. Instead, the neighbour and five of his relatives allegedly attacked Shankar and his family, including Munna Kewat, who collapsed to the ground and was declared dead when brought to the hospital.<\/p>\n

And these are only some of the many instances this year where people went too far in the guise of Holi celebrations<\/a>, showing complete disregard for non-consenting or unwilling individuals.<\/span><\/p>\n

Note that most of the victims in the above cases are Hindu and male. So, we are just <\/span>looking at the tip of the iceberg. Those on the margins, such as women and non-Hindus, are far worse off, rendered virtually helpless during the festival.<\/p>\n

‘Bura Na Mano, Holi Hai’: <\/b>Women Harrassed, Yet Again<\/b><\/h4>\n

Holi, for many women across the country, is accompanied by targeted harassment, often sexual. In a brazen display of muscle-flexing, the festival becomes a free-for-all for men where consent and personal boundaries are violated, and etiquette takes a back seat.<\/span><\/p>\n

A clear example of this is the ordeal a journalist from the media outlet Jist, Medha Yadav, went through this year while she was in Barsana, Uttar Pradesh, covering Holi celebrations. Here’s the video:<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Jist (@jist.news)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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As you can see, unacquainted men come and apply colours on her while she stands with her mic to speak on camera. She asks the men if they considered asking women for consent before applying colours since there is a chance they might be uncomfortable. To this, one of the men says, \u201cThere is no need to ask… This is prem<\/em> (love or affection) ki Holi… It is tradition and we can apply colours on everyone,” before smearing more colours on her.<\/p>\n

Yadav was reporting on how some of the women who came to experience ‘Braj ki Holi,’ seemed visibly uncomfortable. She was appealing on camera that women who come to witness the festival’s grandeur shouldn’t have to feel uneasy on account of the freedom it gives to others to throw colours and celebrate.<\/p>\n

Ironically, even as she was saying that, people went on throwing powdered colours at her, making it hard for her to continue talking.<\/p>\n

Another video uploaded by the same media outlet, Jist, captured precisely how commonplace it is for women to face harassment on Holi. The video shows two women recording themselves walking on the streets on Holi. The two initially enjoy the festivities, but as the video progresses, several strangers approach them, touching their faces and bodies and putting colours on them without consent. The women also get groped.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Jist (@jist.news)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Another video on Instagram by influencer Tushar Shukla, documents the brute instincts of men as they stood in a line by the side of the road during Holi celebrations in Barsana, Uttar Pradesh, and forcefully showered unwilling women passing by with colours and water. The women, uncomfortable, cowered and hid but the men, including a minor boy, did not give up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A post shared by Tushar Shukla (@yayin_shukla)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Another vlog by a traveller showcases just how disparate this festival of colours can be for women and men.<\/p>\n

“Braj ki Holi has two sides\u2014one that exists for men, and the other than men create for women…” the vlogger captioned the video before advising women not to go witness ‘Braj Holi’ solo. She adds that men participating in Holi there have the mentality: “Krishna bhagwan bhi toh gopiyon ko chhedte the, toh hum kyun nahi?” (<\/em>Hindu god Krishna used to “tease” his female devotees, known as gopis<\/em> or cowherds, in Vrindavan, so why can’t men do the same to women?) In this video, too, the woman is approached and touched by male strangers who rub colours on her without asking for consent. She also says that as soon as she entered the area where Holi celebrations were taking place, she was drenched in colours within minutes while her male friend remained untouched for several hours.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Reha Adani | Travel and Life (@stitchyourmap)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Another Instagram video, uploaded by account @negative.travel, shows a man openly declaring that their target this Holi is “bhabhis.” The term “bhabhi,” meaning brother’s wife in Hindi, has been appropriated as a suggestive term for married women. The video shows men in Uttar Pradesh specifically targeting women with colours and water during festivities, even as they pass or cover themselves in a bid not to have colour thrown at them. The women are visibly uncomfortable, flinching and shielding themselves from the harassment.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A post shared by Wander Lust | Basics (@negative.travel)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Women getting harassed on Holi is so common that instances of these are almost inexhaustible. Over the years, Holi has systematically been turned into an opprtunity where men take advantage and make women feel uncomfortable in public. But let’s go one step further and look at another segment of people for whom Holi spells ordeal: Non-Hindu minorities.<\/p>\n

Festival of Colours Leads to Communal Tensions<\/h4>\n

Holi is also an opportune time for Hindutva fringe elements to target minorities. On Holi, this is by blaring loud, vulgar Hindutva pop music in front of Muslim places of worship and colours forcibly applied on non-Hindus and their places of worship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s one peculiar case. Several pro-Right accounts on X (formerly Twitter) started a new trend this Holi by wishing their followers using photoshopped images of seemingly Hindu men applying colours on women in Hijabs. @SaffronSunanda<\/a> and @JaipurDialogues<\/a>, notorious for their streak of amplifying communal misinformation and narratives<\/a>, shared these.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n