Anti-Hindu propaganda peddled at Maha Kumbh, posters calling the Hindu event ‘superstition’ displayed
Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, India 
14 January, 2025
Case Summary
A video circulating on social media shows Naga Sadhus and Hindu devotees expressing outrage over a group of "activists" displaying posters labelling the Maha Kumbh fair as "Andhvishwas" (superstition). The incident is reported to have occurred on Makar Sankranti (15th January) in the Kumbh Kshetra of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, though the exact date of the event has not been confirmed. In a 3-minute video, individuals can be seen holding posters with messages such as, “Kumbh is a fair of superstition, it is just an excuse. If you want freedom, then awaken understanding.” The incident took place near Acharya Prashant's bookstall, where similar messages were also being announced over a microphone. This anti-Hindu narrative, disguised as a promotion of 'rationalism,' caught the attention of the Naga Sadhus present at the site. Upon noticing the content of the posters, the Naga Sadhus and others gathered in anger, leading to the destruction of the entire setup.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Hate speech against Hindus. Under this, the first sub-category selected is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. The incident at Maha Kumbh, where individuals displayed posters labelling the sacred Hindu event as "superstition" and promoted similar rhetoric through a microphone, constitutes a clear instance of anti-Hindu slurs and mocking of faith. The Maha Kumbh is a deeply revered religious gathering that holds immense spiritual significance for millions of Hindus. Describing it as mere "superstition" undermines the sanctity of the event and belittles the beliefs of the devotees. Such acts of propaganda, disguised as rationalism, exhibit a deliberate attempt to ridicule Hindu traditions and practices, thereby fostering a narrative of disrespect and disdain toward the faith. The public display of these posters and the vocal announcements propagate anti-Hindu sentiments, making this a glaring example of targeted religious denigration that justifies its addition to the Hinduphobia tracker.
Case Status
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Perpetrators Details
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