Poonam Sharma
The Congress party is again in the eye of the storm — this time for meddling with the cultural and religious conscience of Karnataka’s world-famous Mysuru Dussehra. What has traditionally been commemorated as an emblem of Hindu civilizational resilience is now being methodically drained of its spiritual content in the guise of “secularism.” The latest move to bypass Hindu practices in the organization of the festival, combined with the controversial induction of activist Banu Mushtaq into prominent positions, has sparked scathing criticism throughout Karnataka.
A Festival of Dharma, Reduced to Political Tokenism
Mysuru Dussehra is not just an event; it is a living tradition with roots stretching back centuries. The grandeur of Goddess Chamundeshwari’s worship, the royal processions, and the rituals all embody the cultural spirit of Karnataka and the larger Hindu identity. But under the Congress government, the festival appears to be undergoing a forced “detox” of its Hindu core — reduced instead to a cultural fair palatable to their idea of pseudo-secular politics.
This conscious dilution is no coincidence. In minimizing rituals and going for non-religious showpieces, the Congress wants to convey an unmistakable message: that Hindu practices, however historically rooted, have to be subservient to its political ideology.
The Banu Mushtaq Factor
Banu Mushtaq’s selection, which is accused of making provocative anti-Hindu remarks in the past, has added fuel to the fire. Her appointment is not being perceived as a coincidence but as part of a planned agenda to trigger and sideline Hindu opinion. For most people, it represents Congress’s perennial pattern — rewarding those who follow the party line of minority appeasement even at the expense of alienating the majority community.
Congress’s Pattern of Cultural Subversion
This debate is not unique. All over India, wherever Congress comes to power, the following pattern is repeated:
Hindu customs are labeled “regressive” and downplayed or obliterated.
Appeasement of minorities is the narrative that prevails in cultural and religious affairs.
Any effort on the part of Hindus to defend their traditions is dismissed as “majoritarianism.”
By coloring Mysuru Dussehra secular hues, Congress is simply trying to reframe Karnataka’s history in a manner that is not its own, eliminating its Hindu roots.
Public Uproar and Political Fallout
There has been a howl of protest. Hindu organizations, cultural activists, and opposition parties have charged the Congress government with willfully insulting the faith of millions. For all those who live in Karnataka, Dussehra is not just a festival — it is a reassertion of their identity. Congress’s interference has thus touched a raw nerve, resurrecting long-standing suspicions about its animus towards Hindu interests.
The Larger Question: Who Owns India’s Traditions?
The Mysuru Dussehra controversy also leaves an underlying question: Can any government selectively appropriate India’s cultural heritage to the convenience of their politics? In attempting to foist a sanitized, religion-neutralized version of Dussehra, Congress not only offends Hindus but also erodes India’s pluralism, which is able to flourish precisely because communities can celebrate their festivals faithfull
Secularism or Selective Suppression
Congress’s approach to Mysuru Dussehra is less inclusive and more about dominance. By marginalizing Hindu tradition, the party reaffirms the impression that it is uneasy with India’s majority religion. If secularism is about removing Hindu identity from India’s festivals, then it is sheer selective suppression in the guise of progress.
The Mysuru Dussehra controversy should be a wake-up call. Cultural heritage is not a pawn in political games. Hindus are entitled to respect for their faith, not derision and distortion. And if Congress keeps going down this path, it will further alienate the very people it says it represents.
