Tamil Nadu-based GRT has joined the list of Indian corporates who have mastered the art of turning Hindu festivals into social messaging campaigns. Just like Hindustan Unilever used the Kumbh Mela and Parle used Ganesh Chaturthi, GRT chose to give ‘gyaan’ to Hindus on Diwali.

GRT wants Hindus to celebrate ‘noiseless’ Diwali

A full-page Ad by GRT Hotels and Resorts urges Hindus to ensure their ‘silence’ makes all the noise this Diwali. Calling for a green Diwali, the Ad shows the picture of a plant instead of a firecracker. “Nature-friendly celebrations, wholesome delicacies and a lively ambience. Our Diwali gift is everyone’s well-being,” reads the GRT Ad’s caption. It would be interesting to know if GRT has the same set of nature-friendly advice during Eid and Christmas when animals and trees are slaughtered adding to global warming.

Not surprisingly, neither GRT’s Eid Wishes this year nor any of their Christmas wishes had any virtue-signalling or unwanted ‘gyaan.’ All such lectures are undoubtedly reserved for Hindu Samaj and Hindu festivals.

History of Hinduphobic Ads by Indian Corporates during Hindu Festivals

This isn’t the first time a Hindu festival has been attacked. Here are other Indian corporates who targeted Hindu festive celebrations using Hinduphobic Ads:

1) Swiggy’s Hinduphobic Ad during Holi read “Omelette; Sunny side-up; Kisi ke sarr par. #BuraMatKhelo. Get Holi essentials on Instamart,” suggesting people should use eggs instead of the traditional colours. The billboards were removed after public backlash.

2) Deepawali has been repeatedly targeted by Hindumisic elements. Tata’s brand Tanishq did the same in 2020 with its Hinduphobic Ad titled ‘Ekatvam’ where traditional celebrations by doing Lakshmi-Ganesh Puja were reduced to a family get-together event.

3) Fabindia faced backlash from Hindus over an ad for its festive line titled ‘Jashn-e-Riwaaz’, which appropriated the Hindu festival Diwali by using Urdu, a language associated with Muslims.

4) Last year, the matrimonial website Bharat Matrimony made an advertisement for Holi calling it a festival of sexual harassment, under the garb of giving out a message on International Women’s Day which coincided with Holi last March.

5) Surf Excel’s Holi ad portrayed a girl shielding her Muslim friend from being coloured, which was criticized for suggesting that Hindus forcefully apply colours on Muslims during the festival. The Hinduphobic ad faced significant backlash for promoting what many viewed as a divisive narrative.

6) Dabur Fem Karwa Chauth Ad featured a same-sex couple celebrating Karwa Chauth, deviating completely from what the festival stands for and who must perform the rituals. The ad was removed after backlash from Hindus. 

7) Hindustan Lever’s Brooke Bond Red Label Tea featured a Hinduphobic Ad during Ganesh Chaturthi where a Hindu man was apprehensive about buying Bhagwan Ganesh’s murti from a Muslim vendor but has a change of heart after having a cup of tea with the latter.

8) Brooke Bond didn’t even spare the spiritually enhancing Kumbh Mela. The brand’s Hinduphobic Ad showed a son abandoning his elderly father at the Mela. The Ad received backlash for inappropriately using the Kumbh Mela context, portraying Hindus in a negative light by suggesting they abandon their parents, and ultimately disrespecting Hindu culture.

Hindu festivals are repeatedly targeted with the woke agenda as seen in the above Hinduphobic Ads. In many cases, the exception is made the norm to deliberately portray Hindu Dharma and Samaj in a bad and negative light. They are now taking their propaganda to new levels by making up traditions that never existed as seen in the Parle Ad. Social messaging during Hindu festivals such as waterless/colourless Holi and GRT’s noiseless Diwali are all-time favourites of Indian corporates.

Hindu Samaj shouldn’t allow its festivals to be turned into some kind of social messaging event where Hinduphobic Ads are used for virtue signalling.

(Featured Image Source: GRT FB page)