Post by : Rameen Ariff

During this year’s Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata, a pandal has stirred massive controversy for recreating the recent Air India plane crash, prompting widespread online criticism. The Hooghly district pandal displayed a broken aircraft amid debris and fake flames, intended by organisers as a tribute to the victims and the rescue teams who risked their lives during the tragic incident. However, the display quickly sparked outrage on social media, with many questioning the sensitivity and appropriateness of such a theme during a festival.

The video of the Air India-themed pandal, shared on r/IndianCivicFails, attracted comments calling the display “insensitive” and “shameful.” Social media users argued that using a real-life disaster as a festival attraction disrespects the families who lost their loved ones. One user remarked, “I’m just trying to imagine the meeting where everyone actually agreed this was a good idea,” while another wrote, “Turning a site associated with such a tragedy into a pandal theme is deeply insensitive.”

This incident has sparked a larger debate about the balance between artistic expression in festival displays and the emotional sensitivity required when depicting real tragedies. Some critics highlighted the growing trend of festival organisers using sensational or controversial themes for attention, often disregarding public sentiment and the pain of affected families.

The recreated plane crash in Kolkata is not the first such incident. Earlier, a Ganesh pandal in Nagpur had also recreated the Air India crash, though it received a relatively muted response compared to the Kolkata display. The original Air India tragedy occurred on June 12, when a London-bound flight crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel building in Ahmedabad seconds after takeoff. The disaster claimed 260 lives, including 241 passengers and crew on board and 19 people on the ground.

Authorities and social commentators have expressed concern over such representations, urging festival organisers to consider the emotional impact of their themes and exercise greater sensitivity, especially when real-life disasters are involved. The controversy in Kolkata highlights the fine line between artistic tribute and public insensitivity, reminding communities to respect victims while celebrating cultural traditions.

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