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Viral Reels Allege Indians Shooed Away From Rishikesh Kirtan While Foreigners Walk In Easy
Viral Reels Allege Indians Shooed Away From Rishikesh Kirtan While Foreigners Walk In Easy
A viral Instagram reel has ignited outrage over alleged discrimination at Rishikesh Kirtan Fest 2026. Held at Anand Dham Ashram from February 13 to March 22, the event promises Krishna bhajans and spiritual vibes in yoga’s capital. But videos show Indians turned away at the gate while white foreigners waltz in freely. Visitors call it racism in their own backyard.
Yoga teacher Rahul’s reel captures him confronting a foreign staffer: “Why doing it in India but prioritising foreigners?" despite a “spot registration" sign. The staffer claims it’s to share “Bharatiya culture" with outsiders and walks off. Other clips show Indians shooed away with remarks like “This is not Delhi metro." The videos exploded with 378K+ views, fueling cries of “Who allowed this in India?"
Digital nomad Kriti Kumari from Bihar visited the venue twice and got denied both times. First, staff said full capacity. Second, her white friend entered, but she stayed out. “How do you think I should react? Being rejected to enter a kirtan by white men?" she posted. Ashram rep pointed to a board that said: “We have a right to decline entry when needed."
As per reports, staff admitted that morning hours suit Indians, while evenings are reserved for internationals. A vlogger asked them: “Is it fair that you are organising this in India and you’re not allowing Indians to go inside?" The rep shot back: “No, it’s fair. Actually, our festival is for everyone. But we prioritise the evenings for foreign visitors because this festival was organised to… explain (spread awareness about) Indian culture to those who have no connection with Indian culture." On humiliation claims, the representative doubled down and claimed that it wasn’t so.
On social media and Reddit, many users claim this is a regular affair. One user said: “I visited today and observed a clear difference… Foreigners allowed inside without issue, but Indian visitors told the place was full." Another added: “They do this every year. My boyfriend denied entry three times now." A woman entered last year only with a foreign friend: “They were clearly not happy while putting glitter on my face… I was the only Indian… It felt deeply uncomfortable and ironic like we were sidelined in our own cultural space."
There are many who are calling out the organisers for their “superiority complex," and visitors are now demanding equal access at bhakti fests. While organisers cite capacity and private rights, the question on social media remains: Can spiritual spaces gatekeep locals and focus on the colour of their skin?
Source: News18
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