'Learn from Christmas': Akhilesh Yadav’s Diwali remark sparks BJP, VHP backlash

Yadav questioned the government’s expenditure on Diwali events and suggested that India should “learn” from how cities across the world celebrate Christmas.

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, a day ahead of Diwali, triggered a political storm with his remarks comparing the festival's celebrations in India to Christmas festivities abroad.

Speaking at a public event on Saturday, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister questioned the government’s expenditure on Diwali events and suggested that India should “learn” from how cities across the world celebrate Christmas.

“I don’t want to give a suggestion. But I will give one suggestion in the name of Lord Ram. Across the world, all cities get illuminated during Christmas, and that goes on for months. We should learn from them. Why do we have to spend money on lamps and candles and put so much thought into it? What can we expect from this government? It should be removed. We will make sure that there are more beautiful lights,” Yadav noted.

Notably, his comments came just as Ayodhya gears up to set a world record by lighting over 26 lakh diyas (earthen lamps) along the ghats of Ram Ki Paidi to mark Diwali. According to officials, 26,11,101 lamps will illuminate 56 ghats this year, highlighting Ayodhya’s cultural and spiritual heritage.

Yadav’s statement drew immediate backlash from the BJP and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), who accused him of “mocking” Diwali and “glorifying” foreign traditions.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said Yadav appeared to have a problem with Ayodhya’s growing grandeur.

“Ayodhya was kept in darkness during the Samajwadi Party’s rule. The then SP government even opened fire on Ram devotees. Now that Ayodhya is shining, Akhilesh Yadav seems to have a problem. These are the same people who hosted singing and dancing festivals in Saifai but object when Diwali is celebrated in Ayodhya,” Poonawalla said.

Meanwhile, VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal also slammed Yadav for “praising foreign festivals over Indian culture.” “Listen to this former Chief Minister praising Christmas on the occasion of Diwali. The rows of diyas have burned his heart so much that he is preaching to one billion Hindus, saying, ‘Don’t waste money on diyas and candles, learn from Christmas.’ Even when Christianity didn’t exist, Diwali was celebrated,” Bansal wrote on X.