A planned New Year's Eve DJ performance featuring actress and performer Sunny Leone at a prominent hotel in Mathura has been called off. The cancellation came after sustained and strong objections from local saints and various religious organisations, who deemed the event inappropriate for the holy city.
Event Details and Sudden Cancellation
The programme was scheduled for January 1, from 8 pm until midnight, at a private hotel in Mathura. It was intended to be a ticketed DJ show for a limited audience of 300 people. The organisers had arranged four distinct seating categories:
- Hut seating
- Cabana seating
- High terrace seating
- Couple standing
All preparations for the celebration were reportedly complete. However, hotel owner Mitul Pathak, one of the organisers, stated that despite following all administrative and legal norms, they decided to cancel the event. "We decided to cancel the programme in view of social and religious sentiments," Pathak said. He clarified that Sunny Leone was invited as an artist for a DJ performance, not in any other capacity.
Mounting Protests from Religious Community
Opposition to the event surged rapidly after its details became public. Saints, seers, and religious leaders in Mathura expressed anger and disapproval. Several religious organisations formally wrote to the District Magistrate, demanding the event's cancellation.
Their primary objection was that such a programme was unsuitable for a deeply religious city like Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna. They accused the organisers of promoting obscenity and hurting religious sentiments in the culturally significant Braj region.
Respect for Tradition Cited as Reason
In their official statement announcing the cancellation, the organisers emphasised that respect for religious sentiments and the cultural ethos of Braj was paramount. They stated the decision was taken specifically to honour the religious and cultural traditions of the area and the feelings of the saint community.
As of now, the district administration has not issued a separate official statement regarding the matter. The event's cancellation highlights the ongoing tension between contemporary entertainment plans and traditional religious sentiments in India's historic pilgrimage cities.
