North Indian in Bengaluru asks why Garba-Dandiya get more buzz than Kannada festivals

A North Indian resident of Bengaluru has questioned the growing buzz around Garba and Dandiya nights, arguing that Karnataka's own festivals, including Ayudha Pooja and Dasara, deserve equal enthusiasm.A North Indian resident of Bengaluru shared his concerns about festivals of the South getting overshadowed. (Photo: representational from Pexels)New Delhi,Oct 21, 2026 11:55 ISTGarba and Dandiya may be adding colour to Bengaluru’s Dasara season, but their growing popularity has also sparked a debate over whether Karnataka’s own traditions are receiving enough attention. In an unpredicted twist, it is a man who identifies as North Indian who has raised concerns about Kannada festivals being overshadowed.Lalith, a Bengaluru resident, took to X to question the growing prominence of Gujarati-style Garba and Dandiya events during the Dasara season. He argued that festivals such as Ayudha Pooja and Dasara, which hold deep cultural significance in Karnataka, should not get sidelined amid the popularity of organised festive nights.In his post, Lalith made it clear that he had no objection to people embracing traditions from other parts of India. His concern, he said, was that celebrating one culture should not come at the expense of the customs associated with the place people call home. “As a North Indian living in Bengaluru, it feels sad to see Kannada festivals like Ayudha Pooja and Dasara being overshadowed by Garba and Dandiya,” he wrote.He concluded his post with a call for greater appreciation of Karnataka’s heritage, adding, “Karnataka’s culture deserves love, respect and celebration too.” The fact that Lalith identifies as a North Indian added an interesting dimension to the discussion. Rather than arguing for the prominence of festivals associated with his own cultural background, he was asking residents to pay greater attention to the traditions of the state he now lives in.See the post:His remarks garnered mixed reactions, with users debating whether Bengaluru’s festive scene was genuinely sidelining local customs or simply making room for more ways to celebrate.One user challenged the suggestion that Karnataka’s festivals were being neglected, pointing out that Dasara celebrations are particularly prominent in Mysuru, while Ayudha Pooja continues to be widely observed across the state.The response highlighted a distinction between the visibility of large, organised events and the continued observance of local traditions in homes, workplaces and communities.Bengaluru’s cultural landscape has room for celebrations from across India, but Lalith’s post raised a question that goes beyond Garba and Dandiya: how can a city welcome different traditions while keeping its own cultural roots firmly in view?The debate, however, also underlined that celebrating another culture need not mean abandoning one’s own. The challenge lies in making space for both.- Ends