Khap panchayats from across northern India on Saturday resolved to prohibit the use of hookah at community gatherings, while also calling for collective action against what they described as the growing influence of obscenity and gun culture in Haryana.
The decision was taken during a mahapanchayat held at the historic Meham Chaubisi platform in Rohtak, where representatives of several khap bodies assembled to deliberate on a range of social issues. Organisers said the campaign was aimed at preserving Haryana’s cultural values and addressing practices they believe are adversely affecting society.
The proceedings began with an address by eight-year-old Avni, who appealed for efforts to eliminate what she termed “dirty culture” from society. The gathering was attended by representatives of numerous khap panchayats from across North India, along with several Haryanvi artists and public figures.
Singer Ajay Hooda expressed support for the campaign, crediting Dharmendra Hooda for initiating the movement. Acknowledging his own professional journey, Hooda said mistakes may have been made in the entertainment industry, but stressed that “those mistakes must be corrected because a person learns only by improving them.” He also praised the initiative, saying it sought to address issues ranging from illegal betting to the promotion of gun culture.
Khap leaders said the mahapanchayat was convened following a campaign linked to Dharmendra Hooda and was intended to build consensus against social evils, including the glorification of firearms and objectionable content on social media. They maintained that the gathering was not confined to a single issue but focused on broader concerns affecting Haryana’s social fabric.
Subhash Goyat, head of the Meham Chaubisi Khap, said the meeting had drawn participation from numerous khap organisations across North India. According to him, arrangements had been made to accommodate around 3,000 attendees, while food and other facilities were also provided for participants travelling from outside the region.
Apart from banning hookah at public meetings, participants discussed several social issues, including discouraging live-in relationships, preventing marriages within the same gotra or village, curbing the dowry system and discouraging extravagant post-funeral feasts. Organisers said the objective was to encourage social reform through community consensus.
Haryanvi artists Dev Singh Deva and Ramkesh Jeevanpuriya also attended the event, while singer Veer Sahu arrived later in the day and greeted senior members of the gathering by seeking their blessings.
The meeting was also held against the backdrop of recent social media controversies involving singer Sapna Choudhary, with khap representatives saying the wider campaign was intended to address issues they believe are contributing to the erosion of social values.
Organisers claimed that more than 100 khap panchayats from Haryana and neighbouring states had been invited to participate in the mahapanchayat. They said the campaign would continue through similar community initiatives aimed at promoting social awareness and addressing issues considered harmful to traditional values.