A Ganesh Chaturthi celebration this year, held in the parking lot of India Bazaar in Lewisville, Texas, has been grabbing a lot of attention online and has ignited a fierce debate on social media. The viral video, posted on X by user Avi Dandiya, shows a group of drummers performing traditional “dhol-tasha” rhythms in the open-air commercial space.
What happened
The video shared by Dandiya shows a group of Indians clad in traditional attire, belting the drums in the open parking area outside India Bazaar in Lewisville, Texas, to mark the festival. The user sharply criticized the event as an unauthorized and disruptive public gathering, tagging local city officials and police in his post.
Taking to X, Dandiya wrote, “This public nuisance in the USA is becoming a habit by recently immigrated Indians, which needs to be stopped and reported. This is the parking lot of India Bazaar in Lewisville, Texas. I am sure these people have no permission whatsoever. I request you to kindly look into this matter. We have enough temples to do all this, public nuisance shouldn’t be tolerated at any cost."
Internet’s take
As the video went viral, garnering millions of views, it has left social media divided into two groups: a section that called the celebration a “public nuisance”, while the others said such celebrations that take place once a year should not be so harshly scrutinized.
Reacting to the video, one user wrote, “why do they think they are in borivali ? zero civic sense, nuisance creators wherever they go,” while another added, “Indians should leave india behind when they try to settle in new country.”
One person commented, “Have always believed people should adopt to lifestyle and culture of the country migrating , if want to continue with same mindset better stay in own country,” while another added, “If people are so Indian by heart why do they prefer to leave India? They can do all this living in their own country.”
One comment read, “I think this is for Promotional purposes. If this is during a festival, then this can’t be considered P. Nuisance if every once in a while. I am sure Chinese, Koreans & other Asians may be resorting to such Promotions. If others are not allowed then Yes this shouldn’t be allowed either."
However, another section of users went rather softer on a yearly celebration like Ganesh Chaturthi.
One user wrote, “This looks like a festive community gathering. Calling it a nuisance seems unfair and prejudiced,” while another added, “I go to this place once a week for groceries. This is their private place and their own parking area. They didn’t create any public nuisance and most people take permission for a small gathering like this and I know they must have done also. They didn’t continue for long."
Another individual commented, “Hello Mr Dandiya, as per Texas laws playing music in public is not prohibited nor are gathetings of small groups. So the group enjoying drums and having a small gathering at Ganesha is perfectly legal. Hope @LewisvillePD will join them and enjoy it.”
What’s the actual story?
The resident who complained online claimed that the drummers were playing without permission in the parking lot. However, India Bazaar's official website tells a different story. It mentions that Dhol Tasha performances will be held between August 23 and August 26, across several stores in the US, including Lewisville, as part of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The event in question was clearly scheduled for August 25, between 6 pm and 9 pm. By that chronology, it doesn’t really fall under a suddenly erupted public nuisance.
There is currently no record whether any action was taken by the police or city officials, or the resident himself.
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