Behind the Garba Lights: The Untold Stories, Controversies and Dark Side of India’s Biggest Festival
Garba is supposed to represent devotion, community and celebration.
For millions of Indians, Navratri means colourful chaniya cholis, traditional music, Family gatherings, fasting, prayers, and nights spent dancing in circles.
But as Garba has transformed from a traditional community celebration into a massive commercial entertainment industry, another side of the festival has emerged—one involving huge crowds, strangers Meeting strangers, dating, Harassment, stalking, sexual violence, moral Policing and increasingly controversial behaviour.
The uncomfortable question is not whether Garba itself is responsible.
It isn't.
The real question is:
What happens when millions of People, particularly young adults, come together every night in enormous Social gatherings—and Society refuses to openly discuss the realities that come with them?
1. The most disturbing story: a teenager assaulted during Navratri
One of the most serious documented cases occurred in Vadodara during Navratri 2024.
A 16-year-old Girl had gone out to play Garba with a male friend. Later that night, the two were sitting in an isolated Area when five men allegedly approached them.
According to the prosecution case, the men Threatened the pair, took the vehicle key, and sexually assaulted the Girl while restraining her friend.
The investigation became a major Police operation involving CCTV footage, mobile-location data and forensic evidence.
In August 2026, a special POCSO court convicted all five accused and subsequently sentenced them to life imprisonment until their last breath.
This isn't a "dirty Garba story."
It is something far more serious:
a reminder that criminal behaviour can exist around any major Public gathering, even one associated with devotion and celebration.
And blaming the festival would completely miss the point.
The responsibility belongs to the perpetrators.
2. Harassment doesn't stop when the music starts
Another disturbing aspect is Harassment around Garba venues.
During Navratri 2024, reports from Gujarat indicated multiple complaints of Harassment at Garba venues. The women's helpline reported that it received 16 Harassment-related calls connected with Garba venues, while women also sought assistance getting home safely.
These numbers should not be interpreted as proof that Garba itself causes Harassment.
Rather, they demonstrate something important:
large Public celebrations require serious safety infrastructure.
And Gujarat Police have increasingly treated Garba as a major security operation, deploying plain-clothes officers, women's safety teams, CCTV monitoring, Drones and emergency-response arrangements at major venues.
3. Stalking young Girls on their way to Garba
In September 2025, Rajkot Police detained two 16-year-old boys after allegations that they had been stalking two 14-year-old Girls while the Girls were travelling to Garba.
According to the complaint reported by , the Girls were allegedly followed repeatedly, and one boy allegedly Threatened them with a knife and took photographs without consent.
Police initiated action under the Juvenile Justice framework.
Think about that for a moment.
The problem wasn't what the Girls were wearing.
It wasn't that they were attending Garba.
It wasn't the festival.
The problem was someone deciding that another person's boundaries didn't matter.
4. Then there is the uncomfortable debate around couples
Garba is increasingly becoming a Social space where young adults Meet.
That isn't particularly surprising.
People Meet at:
Colleges
Offices
Concerts
Cafés
Festivals
Weddings
Dating apps
Cultural events
Garba is no different.
But when romantic behaviour becomes visible at a traditional cultural event, the reaction can become explosive.
In September 2025, a video allegedly showing a couple kissing at a Gujarat Garba event triggered complaints and a major Social-media controversy. Police reportedly summoned the couple, who subsequently submitted a written apology before leaving India. NDTV
The incident produced two very different reactions.
One side argued:
“Garba is a sacred cultural tradition. Public intimacy has no place here.”
Another asked:
“Should a brief display of affection become a Police matter?”
That disagreement reveals a much bigger generational conflict in India.
Traditional expectations and modern relationships are increasingly occupying the same physical spaces.
5. The condom controversy is real—but the viral claim needs correction
There have also been highly Publicised controversies linking condoms with Navratri.
In 2017, condom advertisements featuring Sunny Leone appeared on hoardings in Surat around Navratri. The advertisements caused protests, and the hoardings were subsequently removed following complaints.
But this is where sensational articles often go wrong.
You may see claims online such as:
“Garba has the highest condom consumption in India.”
or
“Garba nights lead to the country's highest sexual activity.”
Those statements require actual statistical evidence.
At present, there isn't credible evidence allowing us to responsibly declare Garba the country's “number one” festival for condom consumption or sexual activity.
A provocative headline may generate clicks.
But journalism should distinguish between:
documented evidence, anecdotal stories and internet rumours.
6. A new phenomenon: “Rent a Garba partner”
The commercialization of Garba has now reached another unusual level.
Ahead of Navratri 2026, Ahmedabad Police Publicly warned People about Social-media advertisements offering “rent a Garba partner” arrangements, with advertised prices reportedly ranging from ₹500 to ₹6,500.
That doesn't automatically mean these arrangements are sexual.
And that distinction is extremely important.
A person offering companionship or a dance partner should not automatically be labelled as a sex worker.
But the phenomenon does show how dramatically the Social ecosystem around Garba has changed.
What was once primarily a community and devotional celebration has also become:
entertainment + networking + Socializing + dating + commerce.
7. The darker side isn't always sexual
In 2025, a Dalit woman in Gujarat's Mahisagar district alleged that she was abused, assaulted and dragged by her hair from a village Garba event.
According to the FIR reported by , she alleged that she was subjected to casteist abuse after joining the event and was forcibly removed. Four women were booked, and Police said an investigation was underway.
This story is important because it destroys another simplistic narrative.
The "dark side" of Garba isn't only about sex.
It can involve:
caste discrimination, Harassment, violence, stalking, crowd behaviour, moral Policing and abuse of power.
8. And sometimes the crowd itself becomes dangerous
There have also been incidents of mob violence and suspicion surrounding People attending Garba.
In 2024, Police detained People after three migrant workers were allegedly assaulted by locals who suspected them of being thieves while they had stopped to watch a Garba celebration in Vadodara district. Police said rumours circulating on Social media appeared to have contributed to the suspicion.
This raises another uncomfortable question:
How quickly can a celebration turn into collective suspicion when thousands of People are involved?
9. The real “industry” behind Garba
There is indeed a huge industry behind modern Garba.
Think beyond the dance.
There are:
Event organisers
Sponsors
Fashion brands
Jewellery companies
Food vendors
Security agencies
Caterers
Make-up artists
Photographers
Influencers
Hotels
Transport providers
Ticketing platforms
Digital creators
Advertising agencies
For many businesses, Navratri has become one of the biggest seasonal commercial opportunities.
And where there is money, crowds and youth culture, there will inevitably be businesses attempting to monetise the Social environment.
That doesn't make Garba "dirty."
It makes Garba big business.
10. So is Garba becoming a dating festival?
For some People, perhaps.
For others, absolutely not.
One person may attend for Maa Durga.
Another may attend because their friends are going.
Someone else may go for the music.
Another person may want to Meet someone.
Another may be there for networking.
And another may simply want Instagram content.
The same Garba ground can mean completely different things to different People.
That's the reality of modern India.
11. What Society should actually be discussing
Instead of asking:
“How many condoms are being used during Garba?”
perhaps we should ask:
Are young People educated about consent?
Do they understand sexual health?
Are women safe travelling home after midnight?
Are event organisers providing adequate security?
Are venues monitoring Harassment?
Are People being filmed without consent?
Are strangers being stalked through Social media?
Are authorities responding quickly to complaints?
Are young People being taught responsible relationships?
These questions are much more important than sensational statistics.
12. Don't blame the festival. Examine the behaviour.
Garba doesn't cause rape.
Garba doesn't cause Harassment.
Garba doesn't cause stalking.
Garba doesn't cause sexual violence.
People do.
At the same time, organisers cannot pretend that large-scale gatherings have no risks.
A responsible Garba ecosystem should combine tradition with modern safety standards.
That means CCTV.
Women's safety teams.
Medical facilities.
Emergency exits.
Well-lit parking Areas.
Safe transportation.
Clear anti-Harassment Policies.
Consent awareness.
Rapid Police response.
And accountability.
The uncomfortable truth
Perhaps the biggest misconception is that there are two completely separate Indias:
One India that celebrates tradition.
And another India that dates, falls in love, parties and experiments with modern relationships.
The reality is that both exist in the same generation—and often in the same person.
A young woman can pray at a temple in the evening and go dancing with her friends at night.
A young man can respect his cultural traditions while being in a relationship.
A couple can attend Garba together without their relationship being anyone else's business.
And someone can attend the same event simply to enjoy the music.
The answer isn't moral panic.
It is consent, safety, responsibility and respect.
Garba isn't the dirty story. What happens around it deserves an honest conversation.
The colourful lights make for beautiful photographs.
The music creates unforgettable memories.
The business behind the festival generates employment and enormous economic activity.
But behind the celebration are also real stories—some romantic, some controversial, some disturbing and some heartbreaking.
The 2024 Vadodara assault.
The Harassment complaints.
The stalking allegations.
The caste-discrimination controversy.
The Public-kissing controversy.
The “rent-a-Garba-partner” phenomenon.
The condom-ad controversy.
These are not reasons to condemn Garba.
They are reasons to look beyond the Instagram version of the festival.
Because every massive Social gathering has another story happening outside the spotlight.
And perhaps the most mature approach is neither to glorify it nor to demonise it.
Celebrate the culture.
Protect the People.
Respect consent.
Question the rumours.
And never confuse sensational headlines with facts.
Garba deserves celebration.
Its darker realities deserve scrutiny.
