Melbourne Couple’s Kiss At Indian Festival Sparks Backlash, Police Complaints

A Melbourne couple shared a kiss and sparked a backlash in India.

A Melbourne couple’s innocent gesture of affection has ignited a storm of outrage in India. A video of the couple sharing a kiss during a Navratri dance in the Indian state of Gujarat went viral, sparking police complaints, social media fury, and calls for legal action.

The incident unfolded at United Way Garba, one of the biggest Navratri events in the city of Vadodara in Gujarat. The annual event draws thousands of people each night to perform the traditional dance Garba. 

Pratik Patel and his wife, both Australian citizens of Indian origin, were filmed kissing on the festival grounds. What might have been an unremarkable gesture was interpreted in India as a serious breach of cultural and religious boundaries.

Melbourne Couple's Viral video triggers backlash

The clip circulated rapidly across social media platforms, where commentators accused the pair of disrespecting a sacred festival. 

Members of the Sanatan Sant Samiti, a Hindu group, declared the kiss an affront and demanded that the police act against event organisers for allowing “indecent” behaviour. 

Local advocate Bhavin Vyas filed a formal complaint with the Atladara Police Station, insisting the couple be investigated for “hurting religious sentiments.”

Online, outrage snowballed. Hundreds condemned the display as “defaming” Navratri and questioned cultural values among Indians living overseas.

Apology and police response

Summoned by police, the couple – married for 16 years and parents to two children – issued a written apology. Officers said the pair admitted their actions were inappropriate.

“They accepted that kissing inside garba grounds during Navratri was wrong and apologised in writing,” a police officer told local media. “They are originally from Gujarat but have been living in Australia for several years.”

Patel, from Vadodara’s Manjalpur area, and his wife, from Anand, had travelled from Melbourne to join family and participate in festivities.

Despite the apology, the controversy escalated, fuelled by  TV debates and trending hashtags. With growing scrutiny, police confirmed the couple left India soon after submitting their apology, returning to Melbourne.

Authorities have not yet filed formal charges but continue to review complaints lodged by community groups.

Clash of cultures

The incident has highlighted the significant cultural divide in attitudes toward public affection.

Navratri, one of India’s significant Hindu festivals, is a nine-night celebration dedicated to the goddess Durga and her various forms. The festival is marked by prayer, fasting, and the vibrant folk dance known as garba.

In Gujarat, the festival takes on a spectacular scale, with thousands gathering nightly in cities like Vadodara and Ahmedabad to perform garba in large community grounds. 

In recent years, the festival has also been caught in political and cultural debates. Hardline groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad have repeatedly called for bans on people from other religions attending or participating in garba events, framing it as a festival for "Hindus only".