Online Desk: Diwali, a festival symbolising the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, was overshadowed by a disturbing display of communal intolerance this year. On October 17, members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal held a provocative rally in Chhattisgarh’s Durg under the campaign titled “Our Festival, Our Business.”

Instead of spreading the message of harmony and togetherness that Diwali stands for, participants in the rally shouted inflammatory slogans and called for a boycott of Muslim-owned shops. Posters carried by rally participants read chilling messages such as “If Hindu interests are harmed, blood will flow on the streets.”

Locals say the rally passed through several markets in Durg, including areas where Muslim traders traditionally sell diyas, sweets, and firecrackers during the festive season. Despite the openly provocative nature of the rally, no action has yet been taken by the police. Locals allege that the authorities remained silent spectators. A resident of Durg, Mohammad Arif, expressed his dismay: “Diwali has always been a festival we celebrate together.

I have Hindu friends who buy diyas from my shop every year. This time, I saw fear in their eyes. What message are we sending to the next generation?” lips from the rally went viral across social media platforms, showing VHP and Bajrang Dal activists marching with saffron flags and chanting divisive slogans. Many accounts also circulated photos of Muslim shopkeepers selling diyas and firecrackers, urging Hindus to boycott them.

Prof Shamsuddin Ali, a social observer from Raipur, remarked: “What’s happening in Durg is not an isolated case. It reflects a dangerous trend where religious festivals are being weaponised to spread hate. Instead of celebrating light, some are promoting darkness in people’s hearts.”

He added that the administration’s silence only encourages such groups. “When those spreading hate face no consequences, others feel emboldened. It is the duty of the police and civil authorities to protect every citizen, regardless of religion.”

Local Muslim leaders in Durg have condemned the rally and appealed for calm. Maulana Abdul Rehman, an imam at a local mosque, urged people to remember the true spirit of Diwali: “Our Prophet taught us to respect the festivals of others. We should respond to hate with peace. I ask my Muslim brothers to stay patient and my Hindu brothers to stand against injustice.”

Many Muslims in Durg also emphasised that their livelihoods depend on festivals like Diwali, as they sell traditional lamps, sweets, and decorations. The boycott call, they said, has left them financially and emotionally devastated.