What should have been a joyous occasion for Vishal Chavda, a young Dalit man, turned into a scene of violence when he rode a horse in his wedding procession in Chandrumana village on Monday. The celebration was interrupted as a group of men from the dominant caste brandished swords and verbally assaulted the groom and his party.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers were angered by what they viewed as a breach of a “tradition” reserved for upper-caste grooms. “How dare a Dalit ride a horse in this village?” the men reportedly shouted before launching a physical attack, threatening the groom and others in the wedding party.

The incident is part of a recurring pattern in Gujarat, where Dalit grooms have faced violence for riding horses, a symbolic act of equality and social assertion. Experts say such attacks are a reminder of the entrenched caste hierarchies that persist in rural areas, despite the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

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Local authorities have registered an FIR and deployed police to the area to maintain order. The attack has left Vishal and his family traumatized, underscoring the social and psychological toll of caste-based violence on marginalized communities.

Historical incidents reflect a troubling trend: in February 2024, Dalit groom Vikas Chavda was pulled off his horse and assaulted in Gandhinagar, while in 2020, an Army Jawan’s wedding procession faced stone-pelting for riding a mare. These events highlight the ongoing struggle against caste-based discrimination in ceremonial customs.

Social activists have condemned the attack, calling for stricter enforcement of protective laws and community sensitization to prevent such violent expressions of caste prejudice. They emphasize that equality and the right to celebrate cultural traditions should not be restricted by caste.

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