Navratri 2026: Bombay High Court Advocates Approach NCW Over Unauthorised Filming Of Women At Garba Events

A complaint has been lodged with the National Commission for Women (NCW) over the unauthorized filming of women at Navratri Garba and Dandiya events in Mumbai. The complaint was filed by advocates from the Bombay High Court, including Ashish Rai, Prachi Pandey and Himanshu Mehrulia. Ashish Rai expressed concern over anti-social elements and specific organizations targeting Hindu women by taking inappropriate photos and videos during Navratri.

These images and videos are then uploaded online for public consumption, often for financial gain, which Rai considers a serious offense.

The complaint highlights the risk of online harassment that women face during Navratri events. With the proliferation of social media, photographs and videos of women attending these celebrations can be widely disseminated, exposing them to trolling and online abuse. To address these concerns, Rai suggested that state governments, police administrations, and event organizers should implement effective guidelines.

Proposed measures include enhancing security at event venues, installing CCTV cameras, setting up women assistance centers, deploying female security personnel, and swiftly addressing complaints.

Rai emphasized that Navratri is a festival honoring the goddess Durga and respecting women. He stressed that ensuring women's safety and dignity is a collective responsibility. According to him, respecting women is equivalent to respecting society, and the celebration of Navratri is only meaningful when the safety and dignity of every woman are protected.