New Delhi: Fabindia, a popular clothing and home-decor company, is feeling the heat as it faces flak for one of its ad campaigns.
The ad campaign pertains to its recently-launched Diwali collection ‘Jashn-e-Riwaaz’.
“As we welcome the festival of love and light, ‘Celebration-e-Riaz’ by FabIndia is a collection that beautifully pays tribute to Indian culture; A collection that embraces the colour, atmosphere and personality of the country… This Diwali more than ever we are grateful to all of us for being surrounded by friends and family. This collection symbolizes the spirit of belonging, urging you to adopt crafts. There is no reason why celebrating your roots by respecting our artisans is not part of everyday conversations,” Fabindia had said in a statement while launching the collection.
It’s the name of the festive collection that is the bone of contention. Why should Diwali be Jashn-e-Riwaaz, critics are asking.
BJP Yuva Morcha national president Tejasvi Surya slammed Fabindia, tweeting: “Deepavali is not Jash-e-Riwaaz. This deliberate attempt of abrahamisation of Hindu festivals, depicting models without traditional Hindu attires, must be called out.”
Manipal Global Education chairman and political commentator called it a ‘shameful’ statement.
“Very shameful statement by Fabindia on Deepavali! This is a Hindu religious festival just as Christmas and EID is for others! This kind of statement shows a very deliberate attempt to subvert a religious festival!” he tweeted.
Soon there was a barrage of criticism on Twitter and #BoycottFabIndia started trending on the microblogging site.
Most users vowed not to buy any more stuff from Fabindia. One user went to the extent of describing Fabindia as ‘anti-Hindu’.
Here are some of the hate posts against Fabindia:
Our festival is Diwali but
according to @FabindiaNews Diwali is called Jashn-e-Riwaaz.
So #BoycottFabIndia Now.
As if they have 3rd class collection pic.twitter.com/eHhSVwBjch— Vandana Gupta ?? (@im_vandy) October 18, 2021
Wow @FabindiaNews great job at de-Hinduising Deepawali! Call it a ‘festival of love and light’, title the collection ‘Jashn-e-Riwaaz’, take Bindis off foreheads of models but expect Hindus to buy your overpriced, mass produced products in the name of ‘homage to Indian culture’! https://t.co/S47g1ArUbB
— Shefali Vaidya. ?? (@ShefVaidya) October 18, 2021
Canceling All Purchasing from @FabindiaNews this year. Who names Diwali collection as Jashn-e-Riwaaz ?? NOT interested in buying. #Fabindia you can enjoy your “Jashn” with the people you are catering too. NOT US FOR SURE #BoycottFabIndia pic.twitter.com/Efi5rnDpXV
— Rosy (@rose_k01) October 18, 2021
I used to buy my Kurtas from there, but from now onwards I and my friends will boycott such Anti Hindu Company. #BoycottFabIndia@FabindiaNews
— Gaurav Goel (@goelgauravbjp) October 18, 2021
