Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most loved festivals celebrated by Indians across the world. The ten-day festival ends with Ganesh Visarjan, where idols of Lord Ganesha are immersed in water with prayers, music, and a festive mood. This year, as the festival came to an end, a video from the United Kingdom caught everyone’s attention online. The video showed a group of Indian devotees performing Ganesh Visarjan on a river in the UK. They placed the idol on a boat, dressed in traditional attire, and carried out the rituals with devotion. While the sight looked beautiful and reminded many people of India, it also started a debate on social media about culture, environment, and tradition.
The video was first shared on Instagram by a user named Sandeep Anthwal and quickly went viral. It has already crossed 1.6 million views, showing just how widely it spread. In the clip, swans can be seen calmly gliding past the boat while the devotees immerse the idol, making the visuals look almost magical. Many praised the video, calling it a heartwarming display of Indian culture being celebrated far away from home. For the Indian community in the UK, the festival was a chance to stay connected to their roots and celebrate together.
At the same time, the video also led to criticism. Some people questioned whether it was right to immerse idols in rivers abroad. They felt it could harm the aquatic life and pollute the water. This created a sharp divide in opinions. On one side were those who celebrated the act as a proud moment of cultural expression, while on the other side were voices raising environmental concerns. The mix of joy, pride, and worry made the video a hot topic of discussion.
The comments on the viral video perfectly capture the divide. One user wrote, “This is such a beautiful display of culture. It feels like home away from home.” Many others agreed, saying the devotion and happiness on the faces of the devotees were touching. Some said it was inspiring to see traditions being carried out with such respect and dignity even in another country. For them, Ganesh Visarjan in the UK was not just about rituals but also about community bonding, keeping the culture alive, and passing traditions to the younger generation living abroad.
On the other hand, several people raised serious concerns about the environmental aspect. One comment read, “Why are people polluting rivers abroad in the name of tradition?” Another argued, “Tradition should not come at the cost of harming aquatic life.” These reactions reflected a growing worry about how festivals, when performed in their traditional way, may clash with modern environmental awareness. For some, the swans swimming near the idol looked magical, but others felt the same sight raised questions about the safety of wildlife in the river.
Some social media users tried to balance both sides. They said Ganesh Chaturthi is meant to spread joy and not create controversy. A few suggested that eco-friendly alternatives like clay idols or symbolic immersions in water tanks could be encouraged, especially in places where local laws and ecosystems must be respected. Others pointed out that Indian festivals abroad show how deeply rooted cultural practices are, even when people live thousands of miles away from their homeland.
The discussion around the video shows the tension between tradition and modern concerns. For many devotees, immersing Ganesh idols is a sacred ritual that symbolizes the cycle of life — creation and dissolution. It is also a way of saying goodbye to Lord Ganesha, asking him to return again next year with blessings. Ignoring this ritual feels incomplete to them. At the same time, environmentalists argue that such rituals must evolve in today’s world, where water pollution is a global issue. The debate, therefore, is not about choosing between culture and environment, but about finding a balance between the two.
What stands out is the passion on both sides. The Indian diaspora in the UK celebrated Ganesh Visarjan with dedication and faith, showing how cultural practices travel across borders and keep people connected to their identity. Meanwhile, critics of the immersion highlight how traditions need to adapt to the realities of the modern world. The video, with over 1.6 million views, has become more than just a festival clip — it has turned into a conversation starter about how communities can preserve their heritage while also respecting nature.
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In the end, Ganesh Chaturthi remains a festival of joy, faith, and togetherness. Whether celebrated in India or abroad, the love for Lord Ganesha continues to unite people. But as this viral video shows, the way traditions are practiced may sometimes raise questions and spark discussions that go beyond religion, touching on issues of environment, responsibility, and global citizenship.
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