Muslims Barred from Jobs at Hindu Religious Events

A group of bouncers in Hyderabad has alleged that Muslim professionals are being kept away from work at the upcoming Dandiya events of Navratri. They fear they will lose work and their livelihoods because of this discrimination based on religion. Mr. Mohammad Firoz, a representative of a team of 200 bouncers, said his colleagues were told clearly at several Dandiya events in the city that Muslims would no longer be kept for these jobs.

Mr. Firoz told The Hindu, “We used to get the contracts to supply bouncers for most Dandiya events in the city. This year, many of my colleagues have been told that Muslims will not be accepted as bouncers at Dandiya events.” Mr. Firoz leads a team of 10 members, and not all of them are Muslim. He is worried about how he will pay his other colleagues if their work stops during this festival season.

Mr. Firoz said the main duty of bouncers is to handle crowds and keep everyone safe. Entering the main area of the event or mixing and talking with guests is not part of their work. He said, “Our main job is to handle crowds and ensure overall safety. For this, we only need a good personality, a strong build and past experience. We do not even enter the main venue inside, and we do not need to talk to guests.”

Mr. Firoz recalled the Ganga Jamuna culture, the traditional communal harmony of Hyderabad. He said such a situation is completely against the heritage of the city. He said, “Hyderabad was never like this. Our identity here is the harmony of the Ganga Jamuna culture. Such a sight is truly unthinkable and strange.”

Discrimination began in 2024

Mr. Salige Prabhakar, who has worked as a bouncer for nearly 10 years, said bookings for Dandiya events normally begin at least one month ahead. He said, “Preparations for thousands of Dandiya events in Hyderabad start a month earlier. But this time, many organisers are clearly saying that no Muslim bouncer can be kept at their events.” He warned that Muslim bouncers will not be the only ones to suffer. The colleagues working under them who are not Muslim will also lose their jobs.

Mr. Prabhakar claimed that this kind of biased behaviour started on a limited scale in 2024 and has now become open this year. He said, “In 2024, this discrimination began on a very small scale. This time, they are saying openly that no Muslims will be taken.” He also said that several organisers are forcing security staff to wear a “fota” or “tip”, a traditional Hindu religious mark, on their foreheads. Some have worn it, but many have refused because of their religious belief.

Mr. Prabhakar said a large share of the bouncers in Hyderabad belong to the Muslim community. If they are left out, there could be a serious shortage of experienced and trained security staff at large events like Dandiya. Dandiya is a traditional dance from western India. Today it is celebrated commercially in big cities across India through large events with music and the presence of celebrities.

The affected bouncers have asked the Telangana government, the Chief Minister of the state and the local police to step in. They want to make sure no one is denied a livelihood because of religion. Mr. Firoz stressed that this is, in the end, a matter of earning a living, and the bouncers have urged the authorities to take proper action immediately.