Telangana Ganesh Idol Faces Backlash Over ‘Muslim-Like’ Appearance

Telangana Viral Video: An annual Ganpati festival in Telangana's Secunderabad sparked controversy when the Ganpati idol was accused of having a 'Muslim-like' appearance. The organizers later clarified that the theme of the Ganpati pandal was inspired by the Bollywood film ‘Bajirao Mastani’, which led to the misunderstanding.

The controversy erupted over the attire of the Ganesh idol set up by the Young Leo's Youth Association, which was inspired by the costume worn by Ranveer Singh in ‘Bajirao Mastani’. The resemblance was criticized by some groups who found the depiction inappropriate.

The outrage spread quickly online, with some accusing the organisers of hurting their religious sentiments. Another section on social media called the theme an expression of secularism.

"We didn’t deliberately choose a Bajirao Mastani theme. Unfortunately, the way things unfolded led to misunderstandings. Our goal was never to hurt anyone’s feelings," a member of the organising committee explained.

Organisers also expressed disappointment over the backlash on social media, attributing the confusion to miscommunication with the artist responsible for the design.

Despite the uproar, the Young Leo's Youth Association intended to continue the festivities peacefully and urged the public to not misinterpret their intentions. 

"We just want to move forward with our celebration of Ganpati Bappa. The execution wasn’t what we expected, but we don’t wish to escalate the situation," the committee member said.