Navratri celebration desecrated; obscene dance performed inside puja pandal in Bhagalpur, Bihar
Bhagalpur, Bihar, India 
27 March, 2026
Case Summary
In Shahkund, Bhagalpur, Bihar, Navratri celebrations were desecrated as obscene dance performances took place inside the Maa Bageshwari Puja pandal. A video of this went viral, causing outrage among Hindu devotees on social media. Media reports stated that this incident occurred during Chaitra Navratri celebrations held at Maa Bageshwari courtyard in Shahkund. In the viral video, female bar dancers were seen dancing on the stage to obscene and vulgar songs during the puja ceremony. Local Hindu people were seen angry about this kind of obscene dance during the religious event. A large number of devotees had reached the pandal to celebrate Navratri and worship the goddess Durga. Meanwhile, a performance of female bar dancers was organised late at night under the guise of a cultural programme, the video of which had rapidly gone viral on social media. The desecration of the religious site sparked several discussions in the area. Local Hindu residents questioned who authorised such a vulgar display on a devotional platform. Many called it an insult to Hindu culture and demanded that the local administration investigate the matter and take appropriate action against the organisers. The video was widely shared on various social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook, sparking tension and debate in the area. However, no official statement had been issued by the administration on the matter.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The primary category selected in this case is- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The subcategory selected is- Defiling religious customs. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. There are several such customs and traditions that are followed by various Hindus and Hindu sects. Defiling of these traditions and customs is a breach of an individual or group’s religious practices. Such practices can range from dietary restrictions like not eating non-vegetarian food for a certain period of the year, not eating non-vegetarian food at all, not eating beef since the cow is considered holy in Hinduism, the sanctity of religious customs followed in the house (like many ISCKON devotees), etc. Any malicious action leading to the breach of such traditions or defilement of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the religion itself but also from disregard for the faith of the devotees who follow the customs/traditions and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific sect of Hindus, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. The other subcategory selected is- Breaking rules of place of worship. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. One of these oral traditions or written traditions is the rules of specific temples. Certain temples have rules which are traditional rules, dependent on the worship of the presiding deities. These rules and traditions have been followed for thousands of years whether they find scriptural mention or not. Such traditions are based on the nature and rules of worship of the presiding deity of that temple. Any non-compliance of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the presiding deity but also disregard for the faith of the devotees of that deity/temple and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition and the deity itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific temple and presiding deity, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. This case constituted a clear instance of a religiously motivated offence, as vulgar dance performances took place inside the sacred pandal during Navratri celebrations to desecrate the sanctity of the festival. Navratri holds profound religious significance in Hinduism as a vibrant festival dedicated to Goddess Durga, celebrated with great devotion and vigour by the Hindu community. During this festival, Hindu devotees establish temporary pandals as sacred shrines, invoking Goddess Durga's presence through rituals, prayers, and offerings to seek blessings for protection, strength, and prosperity. The pandal serves as a sanctified space embodying purity, reverence, and religious devotion, where Hindu families, including children, gather to honour this auspicious occasion. Performing vulgar dances to obscene songs inside the Maa Bageshwari Puja pandal in Shahkund, Bhagalpur, Bihar, constituted a grave desecration of this sacred festival. Such acts directly defiled the pandal's sanctity by introducing profanity and impurity into a space meant for spiritual elevation, undermining the festival's core purpose of veneration. Organisers permitting or staging these performances demonstrated blatant disregard for Hindu traditions and sacred spaces, effectively tarnishing the honour of Maa Bageshwari and the devotees' solemn rituals. This incident exemplified a religiously motivated hate crime through deliberate religious undermining and animosity. By infiltrating a sacred Hindu celebration with lewd entertainment, the organisers and performers intentionally provoked outrage, assaulted Hindu religious sentiments, and humiliated participants, particularly families present at the scene. The calculated violation of purity norms and sacred rules in a revered pandal revealed intent to demean Hinduism's foundational values, aligning with patterns of targeted desecration against Hindu sacred spaces and festivals. Given that this case meets the parameters of a religiously motivated offence, it is being added to the hate crime database of the Hinduphobia Tracker. Disclaimer: The Hinduphobia Tracker records the dates of incidents based on when the crime occurs, rather than when it is reported by the media. However, in this particular case, media reports have not specified the exact date when the crime occurred. The date when it was first reported in the media, 28 March 2026, is selected as the indicative incident date. This is recorded for documentation purposes only. In this case, the total number of dancing bar girls or organisers has not been specified. Hence, for the perpetrator count and perpetrator identity, details have been recorded as 'Unknown'.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
female
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