Hindu customs insulted: Non-vegetarian food served and eaten before Goddess Saraswati idol at alumni event in Surat
Surat, Gujarat, India 
11 September, 2025
Case Summary
In Surat, Gujarat, Hindu religious customs were defiled after a non-vegetarian party was held in front of an idol of a Hindu deity, in a school. According to reports, a non-vegetarian party was organised at the Godadara Shikshan Samiti School by alumni of the Telugu community. The alumni, who had attended the school between 1987 and 1991, organised a reunion event after nearly 38 years since their time as students. During the party, the consecrated idol of Goddess Saraswati, which was on the campus, was covered with a scarf, causing widespread outrage. Non-vegetarian food, including chicken and mutton, was served, with the food brought in from a hotel and placed on school benches. When members of the media learned of the incident and arrived at the school, the teaching staff and other school employees fled the premises. The school security guard claimed that all participants had arrived in the morning, with the programme taking place in the afternoon. Following the incident, Education Committee Chairman Rajendra Kapadia and spokesperson Vinod Gajera met with the principal, who admitted to his mistake. They also confirmed that an investigation would be conducted, after which appropriate action would be taken.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of - Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within it, the sub-category 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. This is a clear instance of defiling and insulting Hindu religious customs. The party took place on school premises, where the consecrated idol of Goddess Saraswati, a deity central to the Hindu faith and especially venerated within educational institutions, was covered with a scarf during the event while non-vegetarian food was being consumed. Covering a sacred idol while simultaneously serving meat near the Hindu idol demonstrates a conscious disregard for Hindu religious observances and the sanctity of the sacred space. Such actions were not neutral or accidental but constituted a deliberate insult to the Hindu faith, reflecting animosity towards Hindu traditions. In Hindu tradition, the offering or consumption of non-vegetarian food in the presence of deities is strictly prohibited, especially in spaces of learning dedicated to Saraswati. Such an act not only defiles the sanctity of the place but also violates the deep spiritual and cultural ethos attached to the Goddess. Covering the idol to carry out an inappropriate act does not mitigate the offense, rather, it underscores the conscious awareness of wrongdoing and the intent to override Hindu religious sensitivities. The fact that the principal, a figure of authority, was present throughout the event indicates that everyone, including the school authorities, was aware of what was taking place. His admission of the mistake confirms that they understood the actions were insulting to the Hindu faith. These actions caused distress and humiliation to Hindu staff, students, and the broader Hindu community, representing a deliberate affront to Hindu religious identity. The decision to cover the idol and serve meat was therefore not a neutral celebration but a targeted action aimed at defiling a symbol of Hindu religious devotion, demonstrating conscious disregard for Hindu faith and traditions. Given the intentional defilement of Hindu religious symbols and customs, this incident qualifies as a religiously motivated hate crime against Hindus. It was not a random act but a calculated violation of Hindu religious observances, aimed at mocking, disrespecting, and humiliating the Hindu community. Disclaimer: The Hinduphobia Tracker records incidents based on when an event occurred or when the victim's ordeal began, rather than when it was reported in the media. Since this event took place on 12 September 2025, that date has been recorded as the date of the incident, even if media coverage emerged later.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
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