Controversy at Diljit Dosanjh’s Sydney Concert as Sikh fans denied entry, Read to know why

October 28, 2025

Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh’s first stadium concert in Sydney, Australia, has sparked controversy over the religious symbol, the kirpan. Thousands of fans turned up for the concert, but Sikh devotees who were carrying the religious symbol, the kirpan, were barred from entering the event.

The show, held at Parramatta Stadium in western Sydney, attracted around 25,000 spectators. The house was packed, a large number of whom belonged to the Punjabi and Sikh communities. However, as per religious tradition, spectators wearing kirpans were not allowed to enter the stadium.

When the spectators protested, they were thrown out of the venue. As a result, the Sikh community, who had come to the concert hoping to see Diljit, had to return disappointed.

Sydney residents Paramveer Singh Bimwal and his wife Sona Bimwal said they had bought tickets for the concert for 200 Australian dollars (about ₹11,000). Paramveer Singh, who suffered from a spinal cord injury, still attended the show. However, during the security check, when the metal detector was used, his kirpan was caught by the detector.

Security personnel told him to remove his kirpan, put it in a box, and return it after the show. Paramveer Singh considered this disrespectful and left without watching the concert.

Other Sikh spectators were also barred

Harman Singh and his friend Manmohan Singh were also denied entry for the same reason. Manmohan Singh, 19, said, “In our religion, the kirpan cannot be removed from the body. This is inappropriate, especially since the performers themselves are Sikhs. We were not informed of this restriction when we purchased our tickets.”

Statements from the police and event management 

New South Wales (NSW) police reported that stadium security personnel were called to speak with the man who refused to deposit the kirpan in the cloak room. Officers spoke with the man, and when he refused to deposit the kirpan in the cloak room, he was directed to leave the stadium. He then left peacefully. “No offense was found,” the police statement said.

Five people watched the concert after depositing their kirpans

Venues New South Wales stated, “We provide a respectful and safe cloak room service. This policy has been in place for the past ten years.” According to management, five people watched the show after depositing their kirpans, while one person refused and was offered a refund. However, the organization also acknowledged that the kirpan is an important symbol of faith for the Sikh community.