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Journalism of Courage
Diwali celebrations across the world this year were full of excitement — and fireworks. From India to the United States and the United Kingdom, videos flooded social media showing people lighting up the night skies with crackers. But while many enjoyed the spectacle, some incidents abroad sparked sharp criticism.
Public figure Avi Dandiya, in an Instagram post, criticised Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) after a video from New Jersey went viral showing firefighters spraying water on fireworks during a Diwali street celebration.
In the clip, Dandiya lashed out at those setting off fireworks in residential areas, saying, “Yeh jo pichle do teen saal mei tum logon ne yeh jo bawaal kaata hua hai na tum logon ne yahan pe America mei, isko band kardo” (This chaos you’ve been creating here in America for the past two or three years, stop it.)
Warning of the dangers, he added, “Tum logon ko pata bhi hai ki ek halki si spark 10,000 sq.ft ke makaan ko raakh kar sakti hai?” (Do you even realise that a small spark can turn a 10,000 sq. ft. house into ashes?)
He criticised the insensitivity shown during such celebrations, asking, “Jo tum neighbourhood mei kar rahe ho, wahan pe tumhi rehte ho kya sirf Indians? Pakistani nahi rehta, Chinese nahi rehta, Japani nahi rehta, African nahi rehta, tumko theka kisne diya hai yaar?” (In the neighbourhoods where you’re doing this, do only Indians live there? Aren’t there Pakistanis, Chinese, Japanese, or Africans? Who gave you the right to do this?)
“India ka naam kharaab ho raha hai iss se,” he said, lamenting that such behaviour was “ruining India’s reputation.” Dandiya mentioned he has been living in the US for over 30 years and that until recently, no one ever had a reason to point fingers at Indians, but that’s changing due to such behaviour.
Dandiya also pointed out that Americans celebrate with fireworks only in designated areas, such as on the Fourth of July. “Tum logon ko ek area diya hua hai, yahan bhi aatisbaaji hoti hai ki nahi hoti 4th of July ki, but woh ek area mei hoti hai,” he said, adding that 90 per cent of those involved were on visas and their actions were giving India a bad name abroad.
The video quickly went viral, drawing a wave of online reactions. One user commented, “Dharam should be inside your home and yourself, not in public. True words.” Another said, “Good points. Hindutva is being spread by Desis that shames India. Entitled BAD BEHAVIOR in another country is a BIG NO. Keep these celebrations and weddings simple without inconvenience to others.”
A third user commented, “Absolutely right! Mess is no way to culture, and insensitivity is no way to fame! Spread this filth and mess in India if you must, don’t pollute the rest of the world. They don’t need your culture and traditions.”
Meanwhile, a similar incident was reported in London, where a viral video showed a line of cars cruising down a city street, with people leaning out of windows to set off fireworks — so intense that some viewers compared them to weapons.
