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India Today
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
How dehatism is ruining tourism
A man dances shirtless in Switzerland to blaring Haryanvi music. On the Burj Khalifa's skydeck, Indians spin to the popular Gujarati soundtrack "Chogada", arms flailing, as other visitors, shocked, quietly move away. Then there are the selfie-seeking tourists raiding Goa's quaint Fontainhas, stripping residents of peace and privacy. This is dehatism for you. The dehatism that some are flaunting and killing the joy of tourism for others. And because of the dehatis, even well-behaved tourists are facing a backlash shirtless man dancing in the Swiss snow to 'Mere Balka ki Ma Tanne I Love You' is popular influencer Raja Gujjar. We know about it because the dance video was uploaded on YouTube with Phuket, an Indian man slips past barriers into a tiger's cage for a selfie, screaming moments later as the tiger charges. These moments go viral. Not because they are rare, but because they are increasingly becoming routine. Be it a popular influencer, a wannabe vlogger or just a group of friends, dehatism — the "We Are Like This Only" attitude — is bringing shame and disrepute to India. In India, these dehatis are a nightmare for locals and too is the economy, generations slogged to gain wealth and respect. Going on holidays with family was a privilege. People soaked in the locales, respected the locals. That was a time when money came after the liberalisation of the 90s, things turned by the turn of the century. Now you have millions of nouveau riche for whom money came regardless of has nothing to do with people from the mofussil, but with uncouth behaviour that comes with big money and little education. For one, it isn't the people from the rural areas who are the rowdy ones, but the SUV-driving city-dwellers, who create a nuisance at tourist dehatis scare women, tourists and residents alike. They believe they own the place because they are spending and have zero regard for locals and their norms. The only things they leave behind are beer bottles, trash and disturbed this dehatism isn't curbed, tourists will be greeted with only cold stares and abuses. The signs of which are already available in Goa, Himachal Pradesh and A NIGHTMARE FOR WOMEN TOURISTS, LOCALSFrom Goa to Vietnam, reports of harassment by Indian male tourists are piling up, painting a disturbing picture of what is a "dehati menace".In Goa's Arambol, harassment has become routine: women being followed, filmed, catcalled.A Herald Goa report from May 2025 detailed how foreign women were stalked, filmed while sunbathing, and even followed to their shacks by Indian tourists. Police say complaints surge every peak in Kerala has seen New Year's Eve, a German resort owner described multiple women being harassed by gangs of men. That same week, tourists at a women's hostel were groped while India, the dehatis are no better.A February 2025 Reddit post from Pattaya, Thailand, described two Indian men molesting a Thai woman. One of them groped her, while the other filmed, and both turned aggressive when recount being stared at and surrounded in swimming pools and public Vietnam, a video went viral showing Indian men queuing for selfies with a visibly uncomfortable woman in traditional also reported men dragging children, waitresses, even strangers into photos. In Hanoi nightclubs, loud, intrusive behaviour by large Indian groups has become a red isn't about geography, it's about attitude. It's about being loud, lawless, and oblivious to context. It's the entitlement, flaunted with money, cameras, and zero DISREGARD FOR LOCAL CULTURAL NORMSIn early June 2025, a video of over 40 Indian tourists in Europe blasting Garba music and dancing in the middle of a public street, hijacking a local performance, went they called cultural pride was seen by many as disruptive entitlement, overshadowing local art and violating public Thailand's Pattaya Beach, authorities recently flagged Indian tourists for urinating in public and leaving behind piles of trash, all within sight of families and other beachgoers. The disregard for hygiene and basic civic behaviour sparked a wave of complaints from both locals and fellow in India, the problem is just as Himachal Pradesh, videos showed tourists drinking and littering by scenic dancing on the road at Rohtang Pass to loud Haryanvi and Punjabi songs from car audio systems is a common sight. Drinking on the road, turning the car's boot into a bar, is again a regular sight in the bottles, food wrappers, and plastic waste now litter forested paths and streambanks in authorities have been forced to increase patrols, not for wildlife safety, but to manage wild hotspots in Uttarakhand like Nainital, Mussorie and Dehradun are facing a trash December 14, 2024, tourists in Nainital were filmed tossing cake wrappers into the valley. When locals politely asked them to use the bin, they snapped back: "Mind your own business". The video went viral, not because it was shocking, but because this behaviour has become so Mussoorie and Dehradun, social-media tourists now crowd around riverbanks and springs, flattening vegetation, trampling sacred spaces, and leaving behind everything from plastic cups to camera guides say it's harder to control influencers than monkeys — at least monkeys don't OF PRIVACY: LOCALS ARE PROPS FOR SELFIESIn Goa's Fontainhas, famous for its 18th-century Portuguese villas and buildings, residents say they live under lean on gates, climb porches, and shoot reels against private homes, often without asking. "We're not decorations," a media report quoted a local, tired of ring lights flashing outside their window, as the Taj Mahal, guides now warn foreigners about unsolicited selfies. Indian tourists often hover too close, snap photos without consent, and ignore Mangalore, a Lithuanian woman filmed a group of men recording her as she relaxed on the beach. They fled only when confronted. This was shared by people on social cases are common in Kovalam and Gokarna, where solo women now avoid quieter who depend on tourism, won't engage in such behaviour. These are mostly the dehati tourists and visitors from somewhere else in and planes offer no escape. A Dutch influencer on a Delhi, Agra train said a man kept taking selfies despite her the incident from Vietnam, Indian men were caught queuing to take selfies with a local woman in traditional dress. She stood stiffly, visibly uncomfortable. They laughed, posed, and left. The clip sparked outrage are dozens of reports of similar behaviour, local women, kids, and even the elderly people pulled into photos without their AND THE LITERRING PROBLEMIn Goa, littering has become a just the first four months of 2025, over 1,000 tourist-related violations were recorded, more than half due to littering public spaces, according to Gomantak Times, a Goa-based cans, food wrappers, and plastic bags now dot beaches, markets, and heritage sites. In Fontainhas, locals start their day sweeping up after strangers' Instagram shoots.A video from Barot Valley's Lapas Waterfall sparked national showed tourists turning the scenic spot into a loud, trash-filled picnic zone. Shot by creator Saumya Pathak, the clip exposed a pattern seen across Himachal: serene sites turned into open-air bars, then left behind like garbage and Kullu face similar garbage is around 10 tonnes a day, but peak season brings up to 50 tonnes, far more than waste systems can handle, according to a report by The New Indian Express. The rest ends up in rivers, gets burned illegally, or rots on once-clear waters are now choked with plastic, styrofoam, and just the streams and waterfalls, beaches in India record plastic levels three times higher than the global pilgrimage towns are Rishikesh, a 2024 image of liquor bottles scattered along the Ganga went viral. Locals say it's become ARE FACING BACKLASH FROM LOCALSTourism is a lifeline for many, and tourists are welcomed with folded hands. It promises livelihoods and development. And it isn't just about commerce in India, a country that goes by the motto -- atithi devo bhava (The guest is God).But thanks to dehatism, towns and valleys across India, which warmly opened their doors, are shutting them Goa to Rishikesh, the frustration is growing. Locals are posting, protesting, and pleading, asking to be seen not as backdrops, but as people with homes and Goa's Fontainhas, Instagrammers crowd into lanes, posing outside homes. "It's trespassing," said one Alysha Maria Lobo put it bluntly in a post that went viral."Goan in the house here! We don't want tourists–period."She cited drunken fights, noise, and a growing sense of being unsafe."We want people who value our heritage, not cheap thrills and alcohol," she Himachal Pradesh, the outrage is similar.A video of tourists trashing Barot Valley triggered a flood of anger online. Users called for regulation and heavy fines. One wrote, "Tourism is vital, yes–but at what cost? There will be nothing left."With rash driving and risky overtaking, they have turned roads in sleepy towns Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, locals have started refusing to guide or help occupants of cars with DL, HR, UP numberplates. Their short sentences and poker faces convey -- you are not because the dehatis from Delhi NCR had been there earlier and revealed their sorry in Rishikesh — known for Ganga and yoga — disillusionment runs deep."Throwing liquor bottles in Maa Ganga after camps is now common," said a Reddit user."Rafting opened the floodgates, loud music now disturbs even the animals," added Kerala, satire says what many feel. One viral comment read, "Locals leave for work while tourists pay for banana leaves and fan rooms in the name of rustic charm."Behind the joke is the reality of being priced out, overrun, and turned into the sentiment is the same: we didn't sign up for this. The joy of hosting has turned into fatigue. The backlash is now a chorus, demanding civil behaviour, regulation, and tourism is to flourish, some will have to learn to listen and follow the norms. Because dehatism, with its 'we are like this only' attitude, is killing tourism.- Ends
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Indian-origin student breaks into energetic bhangra at University of Washington graduation
An Indian-origin college student broke into an impromptu bhangra routine as he walked up to receive his bachelor's degree at a graduation ceremony at the University of Washington Bothell. Arijeet Singh, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, marked the occasion with an energetic dance routine as he walked up to receive his degree. In a video posted on Instagram, Singh is seen stepping onto the graduation stage in traditional black robes, immediately breaking into bhangra moves as his classmates look on from behind. His spirited performance continued as he danced across the stage, enthusiastically shook hands with a faculty member, and leapt in the air before greeting another official. The crowd cheered as Singh joined his peers, now officially a graduate. 'POV: You turned up at grad,' he captioned the clip, which quickly gained traction online. Singh, who is based in Seattle and also creates content on social media, received a flood of congratulatory messages from viewers who praised his joyful expression. A post shared by BrownBoyJeet (@brownboyjeet) However, not everyone appreciated the moment. Some critics accused him of breaking decorum during a formal event. 'I understand you're happy and thrilled about your huge achievement, it's completely valid. But I just want to remind you that graduation ceremonies hold a decorum of honour, gratitude, dignified pride and joy,' one comment read. Singh's video follows another viral clip that showed a group of Indian tourists performing garba to the popular Bollywood song 'Chogada' on the viewing deck of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The video sparked widespread criticism of the group after it went viral on Instagram. Many social media users were quick to point out that dancing in public spaces might disturb others or go against local rules. (Also read: Tourists dancing to Chogada atop Burj Khalifa triggers outrage: 'Civic sense? RIP')
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Watch the viral video of Indian tourists dancing at Dubai's Burj Khalifa
The world is full of interesting people doing interesting things at interesting places! One such interesting incident took place recently at the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa. A recent video showing a group of Indian tourists, all dressed in yellow tees, performing Garba at the Burj Khalifa's observation deck in Dubai, has gone viral and how! The 15-second clip was shared on social media by a Dubai-based content creator. The video shows Indian tourists dancing in coordinated outfits to the popular Gujarati song "Chogada". In the backdrop, we can see panoramic views from the observation deck. Garba: The traditional dance from Gujarat View this post on Instagram A post shared by ColorsTV (@colorstv) Garba is generally performed in Gujarat, being the state's traditional dance form. People perform garba during the revered Hindu festival of Navratri and on other joyous occasions. It is an energetic dance form famous for its circular movements generally performed in groups. In this video, we can see the group of tourists in a circle and dancing to the steps of the songs with happiness and enthusiasm. We can also see curious fellow visitors at the site watching them perform. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eat 1 Teaspoon Every Night, See What Happens A Week Later [Video] getfittoday Undo What happened The group of tourists decided to dance on the Burj Khalifa's At The Top observation deck which happens to be a prominent tourist destination on the 124th and 125th floors. Standing tall at 828 meters, the Burj Khalifa is a world-renowned architectural marvel. It is also a major attraction in the United Arab Emirates and often serves as a platform for international cultural displays. The video of the dance performance has been widely shared on several online platforms and has gained a massive number of views. As seen in the video, all tourists appear to be part of a spontaneous or pre-coordinated group activity. About Burj Khalifa On this note, let's have a look some interesting facts about the Burj Khalifa: World's tallest building : Burj Khalifa, at a phenomenal height of 828 meters (2,717 feet), happens to be the world's tallest building. It has held the prestigious title since its completion in 2010. Record-Breaking elevator : There's another record in its feature, which is that the Burj Khalifa has one of the fastest elevators in the world! Yes, this elevator travels at speeds of up to 10 meters per second, can you beat that? It covers 124 floors in just about a minute. Crazy, right? Observation Deck : The building, where the Garba took place, comprises one of the world's highest outdoor observation decks on the 148th floor. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
NDTV
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Indian Tourists Do Garba At Burj Khalifa In Viral Video, Internet Blasts Them For "No Civic Sense"
Whether it's a wedding baraat on the streets of London or having yoga sessions in Times Square, Indians have never shied away from expressing their cultural vibrance across the globe. That same excitement was evident in a recent viral video of a group of Indian tourists dancing to the popular Bollywood song Chogada on the viewing deck of the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE. The video, uploaded by Dubai-based content creator @the_walking_lens_ on June 15, has sparked an online debate on the "civil sense" of Indians. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Walking Lens 📸| (@the_walking_lens_) The video went viral within hours and has since garnered thousands of views, likes and shares. Some people hailed it as a brilliant representation of Indian identity, with one user saying that it was "sweet". However, many criticised the act as lacking awareness of local cultural norms and public etiquette. One user commented, "Civic sense?? RIP". Another user asked why this is being glorified and that, "We must learn to respect the sanctity of public places." "Why can't people of India adapt to the foreign culture and respect their traditions," another person wrote. "Being an not necessary to glorify our culture everywhere... it's become embarrassing to other Indians who are residents of Dubai," a comment read. Many other Instagram users echoed similar sentiments, pointing out that public performances in foreign countries require sensitivity to local customs and laws. Detractors accused the group of lacking "basic civic sense" and argued that cultural pride must be balanced with cultural awareness. Earlier this month, a group of Indian tourists in Austria faced criticism online after they insisted that local street performers play a Garba song so that they could dance on the street.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From Gujarat to Dubai: Indian tourists dance to the beats of Garba atop Burj Khalifa; viral video divides netizens
Indian tourists dance to the beats of Garba atop Burj Khalifa; viral video divides netizens A video of Indian tourists performing traditional Garba dance inside Dubai's iconic Burj Khalifa has gone viral on social media, dividing netizens over appropriate public behavior and cultural expression. The viral Instagram video was shared by Instagram page @the_walking_lens_. The tourists were seen dancing to the popular Gujarati song 'Chogada' from the 2018 film Loveyatri in a circular formation typical of the traditional dance. The video has triggered a heated debate about civic sense and appropriate behavior in public spaces. One user commented, 'Stop embarrassing the rest of us", and the other questioned astutely, "Civic sense?? RIP". The controversy highlights ongoing discussions about tourist behavior and cultural sensitivity when Indians travel internationally, particularly at world-renowned landmarks that attract millions of visitors seeking respectful experiences.
