A Trishul Deeksha ceremony organised by Hindu nationalist groups in Himachal Pradesh on March 7 has triggered controversy after participants were reportedly given tridents and made to take pledges to protect Hinduism, the nation and cows while raising slogans linked to narratives about “jihad” conspiracies, which critics say target Muslims.
The event was organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal, drawing thousands of participants. During the ceremony, attendees received tridents (trishuls) and took oaths pledging to defend Hindu religious identity and the nation.
Videos circulating online show a packed hall of saffron-clad participants chanting slogans and raising tridents in unison.
Critics described the gathering as indirect incitement against Muslims, arguing that references to alleged “jihad” conspiracies reinforce Islamophobic narratives.
India Hate Lab report released in 2025 documented more than 1,318 in-person hate speech events targeting religious minorities, primarily Muslims, across 21 states, many of which, activists say, often escape legal scrutiny.
Monitoring groups say such events increased during late 2024 and throughout 2025 across several states, including Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Telangana, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, often featuring similar oath-taking ceremonies and mobilisation drives. Critics argue that these gatherings contribute to communal tensions, while organisers describe them as expressions of religious identity and cultural assertion.
On January 28, 2026, in Betul, Madhya Pradesh, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal organised a Trishul Deeksha where participants reportedly took oaths to wield tridents and work towards establishing a “Hindu Rashtra.”
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