Silenced by the Mob, Questioned by No One: A Centuries-Old Hindu Tradition Halted in Daulatpur as Officials Merely Ask, “Why?”

A centuries-old Hindu religious and cultural tradition was forced to fall silent in Daulatpur on the sacred occasion of Janmashtami, reemphasizing persistent questions about the safety and freedom of religious minorities in Bangladesh.

Paddopuran Gaan, also known as Manashamangal Gaan, is a deeply rooted form of Hindu devotional folk theatre practised across large parts of the Rangpur and Srihatta regions. Through song, drama and traditional instruments such as the khol, kartal and khanjani, performers bring the sacred narratives of Manashamangal to life.

But in Daulatpur, that tradition reportedly became the target of organised obstruction.

According to reports cited by Hindus News, a performance was halted after a mob demanded that the Hindu religious programme be stopped. Footage circulated on Facebook reportedly shows a young man attempting to mobilise people through a live broadcast before the disruption.

The programme was eventually held again on 5 September in front of a limited audience and diminished celebration.

Daulatpur District Executive Officer Anindya Guha described the activity as illegal and said he would question the individual accused of mobilising people through social media to halt the event.

But why was a peaceful Hindu religious tradition allowed to be obstructed in the first place?

If a mob can pressure organisers into silencing a religious performance and social media can allegedly be used to mobilise that pressure, the issue extends far beyond one village or one festival.

Bangladesh’s authorities have a responsibility to ensure that religious minorities can observe their faith without fear, coercion or mob intimidation.

Religious freedom cannot exist on paper alone. It must be protected on the ground.