Bharat, a land of profound spiritual heritage and civilizational continuity, has always celebrated diversity and pluralism. Hindu festivals, deeply embedded in the ethos of this civilization, have traditionally symbolized joy, inclusivity, and the celebration of nature and community. Yet, in recent years, a disconcerting pattern has emerged: several prominent Bharatiya icons—journalists, actors, musicians, and athletes—publicly extend greetings and messages of harmony during Muslim festivals like Bakrid, but use Hindu festivals as occasions to voice criticism, often focusing on environmental, social, or political issues. This selective approach raises critical questions about double standards and the defense of Hindu dharma in the public sphere.
This article describes a pattern based a compilation report of 15 incidents from 2012 to 2025, highlighting how influential personalities in Bharatiya media and entertainment consistently preach harmony during Bakrid but adopt a critical stance when it comes to Hindu festivals. For instance:
- Journalists like Ravish Kumar and Rajdeep Sardesai are seen posting warm Eid greetings, yet their posts on Hindu festivals often highlight issues such as pollution or animal rights, sometimes with a tone that borders on disparagement.
- Actors and Actresses including Alia Bhatt, Dia Mirza, and Rakul Preet, share celebratory messages on Bakrid but have used Hindu festivals as platforms to raise concerns about firecrackers, animal cruelty, or environmental damage, rarely extending the same scrutiny to the mass animal sacrifices of Bakrid.
- Musicians and Cricketers such as Vishal Dadlani and Rohit Sharma follow a similar pattern, wishing harmony on Eid while selectively amplifying criticisms during Hindu celebrations.
Below is a summary table detailing the 15 incidents as documented in the report, highlighting Bharatiya icons who extended greetings and messages of harmony on Bakrid but criticized Hindu festivals in their public posts:
| S. No. | Name | Profession | Eid Post Date | Hindu Festival Post Date | Pattern Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ravish Kumar | Journalist | 7 June 2025 | 14 November 2012 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
| 2 | Nikhil Wagle | Journalist | 19 October 2021 | 28 August 2017 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
| 3 | Rajdeep Sardesai | Journalist | 7 June 2025 | 13 November 2023 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
| 4 | Alia Bhatt | Actress | 26 June 2017 | 7 November 2018 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
| 5 | Dia Mirza | Actress | 3 May 2022 | 9 October 2017 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
| 6 | Rakul Preet | Actress | 25 May 2025 | 4 November 2021 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
| 7 | Nimrat Kaur | Actress | 27 October 2019 | 21 April 2023 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
| 8 | Huma Qureshi | Actress | 19 October 2024 | 11 April 2017 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
| 9 | Abhishek Bachchan | Actor | 20 August 2012 | 8 March 2012 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
| 10 | Varun Dhawan | Actor | 16 June 2018 | 11 November 2015 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
| 11 | Vir Das | Actor | 29 July 2014 | 4 November 2021 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
| 12 | Vishal Dadlani | Music Director/Singer | 25 June 2017 | 26 October 2014 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
| 13 | Raftaar | Singer | 26 June 2017 | 30 October 2016 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
| 14 | Honey Singh | Singer | 12 August 2019 | 27 October 2019 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
| 15 | Rohit Sharma | Cricketer | 1 August 2020 | 17 October 2019 | Eid greetings, critical of Hindu fest. |
Across all cases, the individuals listed above have been observed extending warm greetings and messages of communal harmony during Bakrid, while using Hindu festivals as occasions to highlight issues or criticisms, often related to environment, animal rights, or social concerns.
The Double Standard
This selective approach is not merely a matter of personal opinion but reflects a deeper societal trend. The public discourse around Hindu festivals is increasingly shaped by narratives that focus on their supposed negative externalities—pollution during Diwali, noise during Holi, or animal welfare during Ganesha Chaturthi—while downplaying or ignoring similar or even more pronounced issues during non-Hindu festivals like Bakrid, which involves the public sacrifice of millions of animals.
Why This Matters: The Civilizational Context
From a Hindu civilizational perspective, this double standard is problematic for several reasons:
- Erosion of Civilizational Confidence: When icons repeatedly criticize Hindu festivals while celebrating others, it sends a message that Hindu traditions are inferior, regressive, or in need of reform, while others are above reproach. This undermines the confidence of Hindus in their own practices and heritage.
- Selective Outrage and Hypocrisy: The silence on animal rights during Bakrid, contrasted with loud activism during Hindu festivals, exposes a selective outrage that appears less about genuine concern and more about virtue signaling or appeasement.
- Impact on Social Harmony: Far from promoting harmony, this selective criticism fuels resentment and a sense of injustice among Hindus, who see their traditions being unfairly targeted while others are shielded from scrutiny.
The Broader Societal Impact
The consequences of this double standard are not limited to social media discourse. There is a growing perception that Hindu festivals are under siege—subject to legal restrictions, negative media coverage, and even physical attacks on pilgrims and processions. These are not isolated incidents but part of a larger trend that seeks to delegitimize Hindu civilizational expressions in the public space.
Recent years have seen a disturbing rise in targeted violence against Hindu festivals and gatherings, such as the attack on Mahakumbh pilgrims in 2025, echoing the infamous Godhra train burning. These attacks are not just assaults on individuals but on the very fabric of Hindu civilization and its right to celebrate in peace.
Addressing the Criticism: The Hindu Response
It is essential to recognize that constructive criticism from within the community—aimed at reforming or simplifying practices—is a sign of a vibrant tradition. However, when the criticism is selective, hypocritical, or comes from those who do not extend the same standards to other communities, it becomes a tool of civilizational denigration. It is therefore imperative for Hindus to take up the critical task of defence of Hindu dharma through several means such as:
- Affirmation of Traditions: Hindus must unapologetically affirm the value and sanctity of their festivals, which are rooted in ecological wisdom, community bonding, and spiritual upliftment.
- Calling Out Double Standards: It is crucial to highlight and challenge the hypocrisy of those who preach harmony selectively. True harmony requires equal respect and honest introspection across all communities.
- Promoting Civilizational Confidence: By reclaiming the narrative, Hindus can assert their right to celebrate without guilt or apology, while remaining open to genuine, internal reform.
Conclusion
The documented incidents of selective harmony and criticism by Bharatiya icons are not mere social media trends but symptoms of a deeper malaise—a lack of civilizational self-respect and an uncritical acceptance of external narratives. Defending Hindu civilization and dharma today means standing up against these double standards, affirming the dignity of Hindu festivals, and demanding a level playing field in the public discourse. Only then can true harmony and mutual respect flourish in Bharat’s pluralistic society.
