The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has issued a security advisory ahead of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s scheduled appearance at the Universal Oneness Celebration in New York on August 29, urging members of the Hindu-American community attending the event to remain vigilant and avoid confrontations.

In a post on X, HAF asked attendees to remain alert, maintain situational awareness and keep interactions civil during the event. The organisation said activists seeking to disrupt or cancel the celebration had attempted to target the event ahead of Bhagwat’s appearance. It also appealed to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to ensure the safety and civil rights of everyone attending.

“HAF is issuing this security alert in advance of the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden,” the organisation said in its advisory. It urged attendees to exercise caution and avoid confrontational interactions, while calling for authorities to ensure that the gathering proceeds safely and peacefully.

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Bhagwat’s planned appearance has drawn opposition from several US-based organisations. Hindus for Human Rights, the Indian American Muslim Council and the Interfaith Center of New York are among groups that have publicly opposed his participation in the event. Their objections have added a political and civil-rights dimension to the controversy surrounding the gathering.

The Universal Oneness Celebration is being organised by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) Forum. According to organisers, the event will focus on themes including shared heritage, unity and interfaith dialogue. More than 200 Hindu-American organisations are expected to participate, making it a significant gathering for sections of the Hindu-American community.

The event is scheduled to take place at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, August 29. Bhagwat, who heads the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is expected to be a prominent participant. His appearance has attracted attention in the United States amid disagreements between supporters and critics over the RSS and its political and social influence in India.

HAF’s advisory comes as organisers and participating groups prepare for the event amid the prospect of protests or other forms of disruption. The foundation’s appeal focused on maintaining calm and ensuring that disagreements do not escalate into confrontations between attendees and demonstrators.

The organisation also placed responsibility on local authorities to protect people attending the celebration. Its appeal to Mamdani specifically called for the mayor to uphold his responsibility to protect all New Yorkers, including those participating in the event, and to safeguard their civil rights.

The competing positions surrounding Bhagwat’s appearance reflect a broader debate among Indian-American and Hindu-American organisations in the United States. While supporters of the event describe it as an opportunity to celebrate Hindu heritage and promote unity and interfaith engagement, critics have objected to Bhagwat’s participation and sought to prevent the event from taking place in its planned form.

With the Universal Oneness Celebration scheduled for Saturday, organisers, participating groups and authorities are expected to remain focused on security and crowd management. HAF has urged attendees to stay vigilant and maintain civility, while the controversy over Bhagwat’s appearance continues to generate competing responses from organisations on both sides of the debate.

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