Ranchi, Jharkhand – In a recent incident that sparked outrage among Hindu devotees and social media users, the “Mall of Ranchi” denied entry to Kanwariyas, devotees of Lord Shiva, who were returning from Baba Dham. The devotees were reportedly denied entry because they were barefoot and wearing saffron attire.
The incident came to light after a video of the altercation went viral on social media. The video shows several young men dressed in saffron attire attempting to enter the mall barefoot. However, they are stopped at the entrance by mall staff, one of whom can be heard stating that this is the mall’s protocol.
The local administration is aware of the situation and officials are gathering information from the mall management. An official apology was issued by mall representative S. Sanyal, emphasizing respect for all religions and explaining the safety concerns behind the request.
The “Mall of Ranchi,” which spans 2.5 lakh square feet and houses multiple brand showrooms, was inaugurated on August 13, 2023, by Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and renowned Bollywood filmmaker Prakash Jha.
The incident has raised concerns about religious freedom and cultural respect of Hindus in public spaces. It remains to be seen how the local administration and the mall management will address the issue and prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
