At a recent interfaith gathering, a lady voiced a concern that she felt has lingered in the hearts of many people. She spoke of the fear that overtakes her and many like her as their community’s festivals draw near. Her anxiety wasn’t about celebration, but about the possibility of unrest by the “largest minority,” she said, referring to Muslims, which made her feel unsafe, fearing potential riots, stone pelting, or violent outbreaks. Her words were heavy with apprehension, but they also reverberated the unspoken fears that transcend other religious lines. 

What she may not have realized, however, is that this trepidation is not confined to only one community. It is not just one-sided. Every group, irrespective of faith, experiences a similar apprehension as their festive sacred days approach. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and others always hope and pray that—the festival passes off peacefully. One wrong incident, someone will take offence, and could that lead to clashes? This anxiousness is always on their minds. 

This entire sense of unease reflects a deeper societal tension. The vivid colours of Holi, the jubilant processions of Eid, the solemnity of Good Friday, or the joyous spirit of Diwali and Dusshera should be moments of unity. And yet, for many, they are mixed with the fear that a joyous occasion could turn into a battleground of communal tensions.

Why? Why have celebrations become flashpoints for fear?

The answer very clearly lies in the narratives that have taken root. For too long, communities have been pitted against each other, , whispers of suspicion, and an increasing sense of “Us vs Them.” The fear that one community will turn hostile is rooted in historical instances of violence, but those instances have been amplified by exaggeration, misinformation, and deep-rooted prejudices.

We as a common citizen of India must look above the moments of tension and focus on the quieter, far more prettier and frequent moments of coexistence. For every stone pelting, there are thousands of shared meals between neighbours of different faiths. For every unrest, there are festivals where people from various backgrounds unite in peace. These stories, though, don’t make headlines. They don’t feed into the narrative of fear and, hence are largely ignored.

The truth is that no one desires violence. No religious festival should be overshadowed by the spectre of unrest. Whether it’s the Muslim family preparing for Eid or the Hindu household getting ready for Diwali, the underlying hope is the same—a hope for safety, celebration, togetherness, and lots of happiness. 

What’s critical is that we should realise that this fear is mutual. When we say “the largest minority” or “the majority community,” we are creating an invisible line of division, suggesting that one group is the source of fear and the other the victim. While in reality, all communities carry scars of past unrests, all of them suffer from the weight of distrust and also yearn for peace to prevail.

We have to stop feeding into the narrative of fear and encourage the need to encourage a dialogue of understanding. Festivals are moments when all communities can come together, unite, display peace and brotherhood and lead by example. Instead of seeing them as opportunities for clashes, we should view them as opportunities for co-existence.

It’s not just about focusing on the fears of one community—it’s about accepting the fact that every community in India, from the smallest to the largest, has, at some point, felt vulnerable during their own sacred moments. 

The real question is how do we move forward. How do we change such moments of unease into moments of trust and togetherness? So that we are drawn closer by mutual respect and understanding.

The answer lies in proactive efforts: interfaith dialogue, media responsibility, and the narratives which are drilled into our heads through various social media spaces. We must create an environment where grievances can be voiced and addressed with empathy. We have had enough of negativity. The time has come to rewrite the narrative, one where festivals no longer trigger a sense of dread but reignite a sense of shared humanity and unity. 

 Finally, it is our responsibility to erase this shared fear, not related to one religion but to all and we all must take up the responsibility to address and eliminate it from our hearts and ultimately from society. 

I know we can do it. 

Jai Hind.

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