Viral Video: Air India Crash-Themed Ganpati Pandal in Ahmedabad Sparks Outrage
Video of crash-inspired decoration goes viral; netizens call it insensitive
A Ganpati pandal in Ahmedabad has drawn widespread criticism after choosing the June 12 Air India crash — one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters — as its theme. A video of the display, showing a recreated plane wreckage scene with fire crews and an idol of Lord Ganesha placed in the backdrop, has gone viral, igniting debate over taste and sensitivity.
The video, shared by the Instagram page Aviation/CabinCrew’s HUB, was captioned: “Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Ahmedabad spark outrage as Air India crash-themed pandal divides opinions, devotees say, ‘Bappa sab dekh lenge’.”
The June 12 crash of Air India flight AI171, a London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, killed 241 people on board and 19 on the ground after the aircraft struck a medical school building near Ahmedabad airport. Dozens more were injured.
Public Backlash
Many online users condemned the theme as hurtful and inappropriate.
“Unnecessarily, it will bring back the memory of that fateful flight whenever they do Aarti or Darshan. It’s not a good idea,” one user commented.
Another wrote: “This is too much. Who converts a tragedy like a plane crash into festive decor?”
Several others noted that such depictions were not only “distressing” but also a “mockery of grief” for families still mourning the loss.
A Larger Debate
The controversy has fueled a broader conversation about sensitivity in festive art and how far creativity should go when it intersects with real-life tragedies. While some defended the pandal makers, saying they intended to raise awareness, the overwhelming response online has been one of disapproval.
For now, the pandal stands as a striking — and polarising — reminder of how festivals often mirror the tensions between art, faith, and public sentiment.
