Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has triggered a national debate by suggesting people might want to exercise caution in the amount of money spent on Diwali celebrations. Opposition critics, of course, raised the issue of political appeasement, while supporters suggested a rationale behind comments regarding appropriate expenditures. The comments left the public divided and sparked the debate on social media and news pages.
SP Chief Encourages People Not to Overspend On Diwali
Specifically, Yadav called for “excessive use of diyas, candles, and other decorative materials” to celebrate Diwali, calling for people to “celebrate Diwali as simply as they could” due to economic factors, suggesting Diwali practices should not increase factors or issues that contribute to inflation. Yadav cited the way Christmas is celebrated by a majority of nations across the world – simply and without pomp or extravagance.
Akhilesh Yadav: Sparks Festive Firestorm
Yadav’s comments ignited a firestorm of debate with onlookers and participants from Hindu organizations and cultural groups reacting with shock to what they perceived as an undermining of traditional Diwali observations. A majority of the opposition, and many from Hindu organizations, criticized Yadav for a suggestion of moderation when lavish celebrations are a part of India’s culture and heritage, despite Yadav’s suggestion regarding Diwali and Christmas customs. It was that quick to become a television news story, an online news story, and now part of the global social network.
Public and Organizational Responses
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) responded negatively to Yadav’s comments about his placing any holiday or festival in front of any Hindu festival or holiday.
●The reactions displayed a mixture of support and disapproval on social media, with some disapproving of the idea of moderation at all and some praising the idea of simpler festivals and holidays.
●Yadav’s mentioning of Christmas studied the contemporary nature of holidays and traditions against Indian rituals, which had some suggest that a dialogue was emerging about the western influences and meanings of tradition.
●The public is still debating if what should drive them is financial calculation or preservation of cultural practices.
