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Journalism of Courage
A video showing firefighters from the Bedford Fire Department disrupting a havan, a Hindu ritual, performed at an Indian family’s house in Texas, US, has triggered a debate on social media. It has been widely circulated across social media platforms.
The viral clip shows the Indian family performing the puja ritual. As the frame shifts, firefighters can be seen investigating the smoke-filled garage. Several officials can be seen talking to the family to understand the situation. “Cultural misunderstanding 101: Hindu puja (not) emergency. When you’re having a Hindu housewarming puja and the fire department pulls up,” the text on the video read.
Sharing the video, an X handle, @BengaliFalcon71, wrote, “A group of Indians were worshipping the Hindu fire god in Texas, and the neighbors call the fire fighters on them.”
Watch the video here:
The video garnered a range of reactions, triggering a cultural debate. “stop playing with fire. Those houses are built with wood. Have some common sense people,” a user wrote. “they are part of the hindu community & of the local community. Doing the prayer to the fire god is not wrong. Not informing local authorities and not getting the approval and clearance with safety measures and other details is wrong and uncivic, disregard to the community,” another user commented.
“Respect country u live in in, if u want to do all these go to country where its normal,” a third user reacted. “Doing puja is disrespect, using fire for making barbeque is not,” another user argued.
Recently, a video of paan stains on the streets of Harrow in London sparked a debate on social media. The video showed several dustbins on the road covered with tobacco stains, reminding netizens of how public spaces in India are often splattered with such stains.
