Overview

• Members of the Rashtriya Hindu Shakti Sangathan entered a Rishikesh hotel on Friday and objected to contestants’ western clothing during rehearsals.
• Video from the scene shows state president Raghvendra (Raghav) Bhatnagar confronting participants, who pushed back and cited personal choice and parental consent.
• Organisers from Lions Club Rishikesh Royal said the auditions were part of their Diwali mela and framed the pageant as a local platform for women to advance to larger contests.
• Police were called to calm the situation at the venue, later stating that no formal complaint was filed and that the matter was settled between the parties.
• The pageant went ahead on Saturday, while coverage highlighted the group’s stance invoking Rishikesh’s religious identity and its broader agenda opposing conversions and so-called ‘love jihad’.