Navratri, one of the most important Hindu festivals, celebrated with devotion to honor Goddess Durga. A recent incident at a popular garba venue in Vadodara, Gujarat, has stirred controversy. A video showing an NRI couple kissing at the United Way Garba grounds became viral. This sparked criticism from event organizers and social media users, many of whom called for strict action.
NRI couple disrespect culture by kissing in Gujarat Garba ground
The couple, originally from Vadodara and Anand but now living in Australia, shocked festival attendees. Their actions ignited discussions about respecting cultural and religious traditions. In response to the backlash, they admitted their mistake, wrote an apology to the Atlanta Police, and returned to Australia after the complaint.
The video shows the man, Pratik Patel from Manjalpur, lifting his wife and kissing her in front of the crowd at the garba venue. According to Deccan Herald, police confirmed that the couple is legally married. They lived in Melbourne for 16 years, and has two children.
Couple apologize to affect religious sentiments
A Police Inspector said, “They submitted in writing that the place where they kissed was a sacred site during Navratri in Gujarat. They have apologized, saying they should not have done that. They are locals but have been living in Australia. They have married for 16 years and have children.”
One social media user criticized the couple, saying, “This is why the demand for condoms increases during Navratri.” The increased condom demand refers to a rise in sales in India, especially during special occasions like New Year’s Eve and Navratri.
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