‘Rent a Garba Partner’ Apps Trigger Controversy: Why Gujarat Police Issued an Advisory Ahead of Navratri

A bizarre new trend has emerged on social media ahead of Navratri 2026 in Gujarat: advertisements offering people the option to “rent” a Garba partner for the festival. The posts, particularly visible on Instagram, offer different packages for people who want a companion for Garba events, with prices ranging from hundreds of rupees to several thousand depending on the duration and services advertised.

What initially appeared to many social-media users to be a quirky Gen Z trend has now attracted the attention of the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Cell. Police are examining the posts to determine whether they are genuine services, attempts to increase social-media engagement, or potential fronts for phishing, financial fraud and other cybercrime.

What Is the ‘Rent a Garba Partner’ Trend?

This whole concept appears quite simple on the face of it. The social-media advertisements state that those who don’t have any Garba companion can purchase one to enjoy the Navratri festivities. Various advertisements have shown packages available under the name of Silver, Gold, and Platinum, with varying lengths and perks offered based on the package.

The price range of the various offers started at around ₹1,000 and went up to ₹6,500. Other packages that include Garba companion, coordinated attire, dancing guidance, pictures, and reels were advertised. There are also advertisements that make more personal promises, thus adding to the controversy of this trend.

The concept has immediately received wide recognition due to the combination of social-media reels along with Navratri Garba traditions.

Why Did the Police Get Involved?

The issue was not confined to social media reactions when the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Cell took up the task of analyzing the ads. The police authorities have cautioned internet users against taking these profiles for real on the grounds of them providing a festive service.

“Officials have raised suspicions regarding whether these posts involved any kind of fraud or malafide intentions. We are focusing on suspicious payment links, messages, or attachments which may direct the users to some scam website,” Ahmedabad Cyber Crime DCP Dr. Lavina Sinha said.

Therefore, the warning is not against the concept of searching for a Garba partner but about what would happen post-interaction with such profiles.

How Could These Posts Become a Cyber Scam?

The primary danger that could arise from this is the fact that the individual replying to the advertisement might be required to pay some money in advance using some unknown link or account. In case the advertised services do not come through, the user ends up losing their money.

However, there is even a possibility of a more dangerous problem developing out of this. The police have warned about the possibility of phishing, messaging-app compromise or other kinds of financial transactions using such links or attachments.

This would mean that this innocent-looking Garba partner booking request could actually result in a full-fledged cybercrime attempt.

Are All ‘Rent a Garba Partner’ Posts Fake?

The police have not made any claim that all the advertisements are fraudulent. The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Cell is investigating the accounts and their motives, and the process is still evolving.

Some reports have claimed that some posts have been made only for getting more followers. According to one of the reports, the police discovered that while the first set of posts was posted from the accounts of real people, the subsequent posts started emerging from different handles, even those generated by AI.

This is quite significant since although a viral advertisement does not necessarily mean that there is a scam going on, users cannot take it for granted that an appealing and professionally done Instagram post is a genuine business.

Why Has the Trend Become Controversial?

There are two different aspects of the issue in question. On one hand, the issue is about digital safety, while on the other hand, the issue deals with the cultural background of Navratri and Garba.

Garba is closely related to the Navratri celebration of Gujarat, and the dance is usually performed by people in communities, families, and other places. The commercialization of companionship during the festival season has thus been criticized by certain groups for being against the nature of the traditional festival.

However, there have been many users who have approached the issue in a light-hearted manner, talking about the unique price packages available and making a paid social activity out of it. It is also notable that the viral aspect of the posts has made the trend go further than just those who originated the trend.

What Are the Police Advising People to Do?

The first and foremost takeaway from the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Cell is not to transfer money to any profile unless verified. It is the specific appeal by the Police asking the user community to be careful while dealing with the payment request regarding these advertisements.

User should not click on any strange payment link or download attachment sent through Instagram, WhatsApp or other messengers. Just because of any profile picture, follower count or viral video does not mean anything for its authenticity.

If anyone thinks that he has been fooled or compromised in any form, one should immediately contact the police or cyber crime cell.

Why the Warning Matters Before Navratri

This is crucial as far as the rise in activities surrounding Navratri is considered; people are trying to locate Garba parties, costumes, partners, places to visit, and more entertainment options, making it a perfect ground for festival-themed advertisements.

This kind of environment could potentially make it easier for frauds to pose themselves as legitimate services in order to deceive people.

The police advisory serves as an overall warning about the need to not ignore some of the necessary digital safety steps due to festive excitement.

What Happens Next?

The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Cell will continue investigating the suspicious accounts and advertisements. This means that the investigators will have to determine whether those posts are legitimate services, or they are just social media interactions, or even potential fraud attempts.

At this point, it is better to be on the safe side when it comes to “Rent a Garba Partner” ads.

Conclusion

“Rent a Garba Partner” fad may have started off as an odd social media trend before Navratri, but has fast turned into a cybersecurity issue ever since the Ahmedabad Police decided to investigate the ads.

It’s not just the peculiar concept of paying for Garba partners. The danger lies in the fact that such posts on unknown profiles can exploit the fad and try to make advance payments, gather personal information and even circulate dangerous links and initiate scam chats.

Gujarat Police have now asked the public to verify before making any payments before Navratri.

While a viral post on Instagram might seem innocent enough, the police say one must verify the profile owner before making any payments or clicking on any unfamiliar link.

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