The man who had earlier called the sacred Maha Kumbh Mela as “faltu” (meaningless) is now drawing public outrage for celebrating Halloween a Western festival with no roots in Indian culture. Videos of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav participating in Halloween celebrations with his grandchildren have sparked a major political row in Bihar. The BJP has sharply criticized Yadav’s double standards, calling it yet another example of how political appeasement and cultural disconnect define the INDIA alliance’s mindset.
From ‘Faltu Kumbh’ to ‘Happy Halloween’
The controversy erupted after Lalu’s daughter Rohini Acharya shared photos and videos of her father enjoying Halloween with his grandchildren, dressed in spooky costumes. The clips showed the veteran politician smiling, playing, and posing with children amid ghostly decorations all in stark contrast to his earlier disdain for the age-old Hindu festival of Kumbh.
Back in February this year, Lalu had courted widespread outrage after he mocked the Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, calling it “faltu” while commenting on a tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station involving pilgrims. His statement, “Kumbh ka kahan koi matlab hai, faltu hai Kumbh,” was seen as a direct insult to Sanatan Dharma and millions of devotees who regard Kumbh as a sacred confluence of faith and spirituality.
The BJP wasted no time in slamming Lalu’s contradictory behavior. The BJP Kisan Morcha posted on X (formerly Twitter), reminding people of Bihar about Yadav’s earlier insult:
“Don’t forget, people of Bihar. This is the same Lalu Yadav who called the grand Kumbh of faith and spirituality useless and is now celebrating the British festival of Halloween.” Leaders like Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma accused Yadav of demeaning Hindu culture for political mileage while being eager to adopt foreign traditions for personal amusement. They argued that such hypocrisy exposes the RJD’s detachment from Indian values and its continuous attempt to undermine Sanatana traditions.
Political analysts point out that Lalu’s actions reflect a larger pattern of cultural insensitivity often displayed by opposition leaders. While the INDIA alliance tries to project itself as secular and inclusive, such instances reveal a deep-rooted disdain for Hindu symbols, festivals, and rituals.
The celebration of Halloween, which originates from ancient Celtic traditions, has no connection to India’s culture or heritage. Yet, leaders like Lalu choose to glorify it, while dismissing sacred Indian festivals as irrelevant. This not only alienates the rural and religious masses of Bihar but also reinforces the growing perception that appeasement politics has overtaken respect for faith within the opposition ranks.
The people of Bihar especially those with deep religious and cultural roots have expressed anger over the incident. Many view Lalu’s Halloween enthusiasm as a mockery of Indian traditions and an example of misplaced priorities. Political observers believe that this controversy will further erode the credibility of the RJD and may distance the INDIA alliance from the common voter, particularly in the heartland where religious identity remains central to people’s emotions.
Lalu Prasad Yadav’s act of celebrating Halloween, while earlier mocking the Maha Kumbh, highlights the widening disconnect between certain political elites and India’s cultural core. For a leader who once called one of the world’s largest spiritual gatherings “meaningless,” his enthusiasm for a Western festival exposes blatant hypocrisy. In a country where festivals like Kumbh unite millions through faith, discipline, and devotion, mocking it for cheap political relevance only deepens distrust among people. Respect for Sanatana Dharma isn’t optional it’s integral to India’s identity.