The sacred festival of Mahashivratri, celebrated across Bharat with deep devotion and rich cultural traditions in honour of Bhagwan Shiva, has in recent years increasingly seen episodes of disruption, violence, and targeted hostility. A review of documented incidents from 2018 to 2026 indicates a troubling trend of attacks on Shiv Barat processions, Kanwar yatras, mandir gatherings, and related cultural activities.
From Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, these occurrences point not to isolated incidents but to a recurring cycle of communal provocation and conflict during one of Hinduism’s most revered festivals.
Jaspur, Uttarakhand (2026)
On 15 February 2026, in Jaspur of Udham Singh Nagar district, Kanwariyas carrying holy water during Mahashivratri were allegedly attacked from a rooftop near Abdulwari Chowk. Reports suggest that empty beverage packets and wooden sticks were hurled at the devotees. The incident quickly went viral on social media, heightening communal tensions in the area. Police acted promptly, summoning the minors involved and their guardians for questioning.
Stone pelting and mob violence in Uttar Pradesh (2026)
On 14 February 2026, in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, Kanwariyas returning from Haridwar were reportedly subjected to stone pelting and assault near a Shiv mandir in the Chebda locality. The devotional procession allegedly escalated into violence following objectionable remarks during a nearby birthday gathering, leaving several devotees injured.
Organised disruption and arson in Jharkhand
In February 2025, preparations for Mahashivratri in Dumraon village, under Ichak police station limits in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, reportedly triggered violent opposition. Stone pelting and arson occurred near a madrasa despite prior police-mediated discussions. Vehicles were torched, and multiple people sustained injuries.
Earlier, in 2023, a Shiv Barat procession in Panki, Palamu district, Jharkhand, was allegedly attacked with stones and petrol bombs following disputes over a ceremonial gateway and loudspeaker use.
Madhya Pradesh & Karnataka: Processions under siege (2023 and 2022)
In Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, in 2023, a Shiv-Parvati tableau was reportedly obstructed and attacked during Mahashivratri festivities, resulting in injuries and alleged threats to those organising similar events in the future.
Similarly, in Aland town of Kalaburagi district, Karnataka, in 2022, clashes erupted near a dargah when Hindu groups celebrating Mahashivratri were allegedly attacked. Police reported more than 167 arrests in connection with the violence.
Himachal Pradesh (2023)
At the International Shivratri Mahotsav in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, controversy arose when Sufi performers rendered songs praising Allah instead of Bhagwan Shiva. The performance drew objections from sections of the Hindu community and was seen by critics as a symbol of cultural dilution at a traditionally Shaivite celebration in what is often referred to as Devbhoomi.
Crimes against women during the festival (2021)
The documented incidents also include deeply disturbing crimes against women during Mahashivratri. In Bulandshahr in 2021, a 25-year-old woman returning from a Kanwar yatra was allegedly sexually assaulted by an acquaintance. In Mainpuri the same year, a five-year-old girl visiting a mandir was allegedly raped by a local accused, who was later arrested.
The pattern of conflict dates further back. In Barabanki in 2018, a Shiv Barat reportedly faced lathi attacks after colours fell on members of another community. In Agra and Aligarh in 2019, Shivratri preparations and even service activities organised for Kanwariyas reportedly drew hostility or became targets of social media campaigns.
In Haryana in 2023, a Hindu youth preparing for Mahashivratri celebrations at a mandir alleged that he was assaulted by a large mob and later shared video testimony on social media.
Taken together, these incidents from 2018 to 2026 form a documented chronology of confrontation, violence, cultural disputes, and criminal activity associated with Mahashivratri celebrations across several states. The recurrence of such episodes during one of Hinduism’s most important religious observances has raised serious concerns about communal harmony, law and order preparedness, and the safety of devotees participating in processions.
