A dispute over a donation for Ganpati celebrations in Vadodara’s Chokhandi district turned violent after a group of young people demanded ₹21,000 from a kulfi shop. The shopkeeper refused to pay such a large amount and instead gave a smaller contribution, a report says. There was then a dispute between the two groups that saw the youths storm into the shop and damage property.
The incident took place at Rajasthan Kulfi Store in the Chokhandi area of Vadodara. In spite of the fact that the incident is being investigated, video footage was shown on social media, and we are asking people to act against them.
₹21,000 Chanda Demand Leads To Dispute
The group of youths came to the shop for Ganpati celebration, they said, as part of a collection drive. They allegedly demanded ₹21,000 from the shopkeeper as chanda, which is a donation usually made to fund community Ganpati celebrations and other events.
The shopkeeper said he could not afford to give so much money. He was willing to give around ₹1,000 instead, he said about ₹1,000. But the group refused to accept the smaller contribution, according to the report.
The dispute turned out to be heated, and the youths got aggressive when the shopkeeper did not comply with their demand, the newspaper reported.
A video recorded by the shop’s CCTV cameras shows several people inside the establishment during the confrontation. Objects are thrown, and parts of the shop are damaged, the report says. The shopkeeper is also seen being assaulted.
The exact sequence of events and the identities of everyone involved are subject to the police investigation.
The alleged vandalism caused extensive damage inside the shop, according to reports. The incident also helped spark a wider debate on how festival donations are collected from local businesses.
Ganpati celebrations are large community events across a lot of Gujarat and other states, with residents and businesses often putting money into pandals, decorations, cultural programmes and other things. But contributions are expected to be voluntary. The Vadodara incident has raised questions about coercion and pressure on businesses to pay amounts they cannot afford.
After the incident, the shopkeeper approached the Wadi Police Station and filed a complaint, reports said. Police are now studying the CCTV footage to find the people involved and what happened during the confrontation.
The video has also been widely posted on social media, with users calling the video “vandalism” and demanding legal action. Some have described it as evidence that collection in the name of religion is forced. But these are only allegations and do not constitute criminal liability unless there is a police inquiry and subsequent legal proceedings.
Chokhandi, Vadodara -the youths went to Rajasthan Kulfi Store and demanded Rs21,000 as chanda for Ganpati celeb. When the shopkeeper clearly refused to pay such a large amount, they became aggressive, entered the premises and caused extensive damage.pic.twitter.com/ndvKW0gzH6
— My Vadodara (@MyVadodara) September 14, 2026
Questions Over Forced Festival Contributions
The incident has also exposed the difference between voluntary festival donations and alleged forced collections. And although community contributions are a common part of Ganpati celebrations, shopkeepers and residents may choose how much they can afford to contribute.
The demand of ₹21,000 is the central point of dispute. The shopkeeper’s alleged refusal to pay the amount initiated the affair that led to damage to the business, as per sources.
Police investigations will now be crucial in establishing the full circumstances of the incident. The CCTV camera footage, testimony from the shopkeeper and witnesses, and other evidence will be reviewed, and action taken in the future based on those, once the case is made in court.
All of these allegations against the youths are under investigation, the government said Wednesday. But local traders and social media users are concerned about the use of pressure or intimidation to raise money for religious and community celebrations.
