An innocent moment at a vibrant garba celebration in Vadodara turned into a viral controversy this week, as an Indian-origin couple’s public display of affection led to huge discussions on boundaries of personal expression during religious festivities.
The couple, married for 16 years and based in Melbourne, Australia, had travelled to Vadodara to visit their families and enjoy the annual Navratri celebrations.
What began as a joyous, energetic moment on the dance floor quickly became the center of attention when the husband lifted his wife and kissed her on the lips during the United Way Garba on September 26.
A controversial kiss
The United Way Garba event held at the Kalali ground, is one of the world’s largest Navratri gatherings, drawing between 30,000 to 35,000 people each night, including thousands of NRIs who come to celebrate their roots.
The couple, caught up in the festive energy, was enjoying the rhythmic dance of garba, a celebration of the divine feminine energy during Navratri, when the kiss happened.
For many, the kiss was nothing more than an expression of love between a married couple. Yet, in the eyes of many social media users, especially those from more conservative quarters, the act was deemed inappropriate, with some criticising it as disrespectful to the cultural and religious sanctity of the event.
The backlash was swift and severe, and the couple issued a formal written apology to the police before leaving India.
‘Slapping in public is okay, but not this!’
Netizens swiftly reacted to the video. A user noted, “In India spitting, peeing and slapping in public are legal and adored while a small gesture of love between a couple results in police action.” Another added, “Why is pissing in public more socially acceptable than kissing in public?”
“Is kissing an offence in India?,” asked a netizen. A user explained, “It’s good that the couple took responsibility and issued a formal apology. While personal freedoms matter, public events also require respecting cultural sentiments and local norms. Such apologies help maintain harmony and show accountability, especially when people from different backgrounds are participating. Hopefully, this serves as a reminder for everyone to enjoy festivities respectfully, keeping both celebration and cultural values in mind.”
“It is all for the reels. This generation is completely gone. They think making reels online is the most important skill,” noted another user.