A scheduled New Year’s Eve DJ performance by actress and media personality Sunny Leone at a private hotel in Mathura has been cancelled following intense opposition from local religious leaders and organisations.
The organisers cited respect for the cultural traditions of the Braj region and the sentiments of the saint community as the reason for calling off the event.
The programme was to be held on January 1 at a hotel in Mathura, with preparations reportedly complete. According to a report by TOI, the event was planned as a ticketed DJ show for a limited audience of 300, with various seating categories arranged. It was scheduled to run from 8 pm until midnight.
However, details of the event sparked significant backlash after they became public. Saints, seers and several religious groups objected strongly, arguing that such a programme was inappropriate for a city considered a major Hindu pilgrimage site. They wrote to the district magistrate demanding its cancellation, accusing organisers of promoting obscenity and hurting religious sentiments.
In response to the mounting protests, the organisers decided to cancel. Hotel owner Mitul Pathak, quoted by TOI, stated that Sunny Leone was invited as an artist for a DJ performance and that all necessary administrative and legal norms were being followed. “Despite this, we decided to cancel the programme in view of social and religious sentiments,” Pathak said.
The district administration has not yet issued an official statement regarding the cancellation. The organisers’ announcement framed the decision as a gesture of respect for the religious ethos of the Braj region.
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