Firefighters pull up after smoke from ‘havan’ at Indian household in US, viral video sparks debate

A viral video shows firefighters from the Bedford Fire Department arriving at an Indian family’s house in Texas, US, to investigate a smoke-filled garage. However, upon inquiring, it was found that a havan, (a sacred ritual in Hinduism, involving the offering of oblations or sacrifices into a fire) was being conducted. 

The header of the clip that has been widely circulated reads, “Cultural misunderstanding 101: A Hindu puja is not a fire emergency. When you’re having a housewarming havan and the fire department pulls up.”

Shortly after arriving, fire officials are seen speaking with the family and examining the area. It remains unclear whether any enforcement action was taken or if the family breached any local fire safety regulations.

Netizens react

A user commented, “Respect the country you live in, if you want to do all these, go to a country where it’s normal.”

Another wrote, “Stop playing with fire. Those houses are built with wood.  Have some common sense, people.”

The post also involved some racist comments against Indians and Hindus. 

One wrote, “They are part of the Hindu community & of the local community. Doing the prayer to the fire god is not wrong. Not informing local authorities and not getting the approval and clearance with safety measures and other details is wrong and uncivic, disregarding the community,” another user commented.

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