Should public celebrations or expression of devotion be avoided?

E arlier this week, a video purportedly showing a group of people offering namaz at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru ignited a political controversy in Karnataka, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party taking exception to the incident and demanding accountability from the State government. Around the same time, in Uttar Pradesh, the police began removing unauthorised sound systems from mosques and temples in some areas. In India, it is common to see Navratri celebrations at the airport, namaz on railway platforms, commemoration of Sikh Gurus’ Jayanti on the roads of Delhi, hear azaan on a loudspeaker five times a day, and jagrans all night long. India is undeniably demonstrative about religion in public space. Should public celebrations or expression of devotion be av