Trolled, Fabindia retracts advert 'Jashn-e-Riwaaz'

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 19

Clothing brand Fabindia has withdrew its advertisement “Jashn-e-Riwaaz” showcasing a new festive line ahead of Diwali after a massive backlash from BJP leaders and a section of consumers over the use of Urdu to describe a Hindu festival.

Fabindia was trolled on Twitter starting Monday after it posted the ad, which, the company today said, was not a Diwali collection. The company added that a dedicated Diwali clothing collection “Jhilmil si Diwali” was on the way.

“Deepawali is not Jash-e-Riwaaz. This deliberate attempt of abrahamisation of Hindu festivals, depicting models without traditional Hindu attires, must be called out. And brands like @FabindiaNews must face economic costs for such deliberate misadventures,” Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president and South Bangalore MP Tejasvi Surya said on Twitter.

A company spokesperson said, “We at FabIndia have always stood for the celebration of India with its myriad traditions in all hues.”

The withdrawal of the Fabindia ad comes a year after the famous jewellery brand Tanishq retracted its ad featuring an inter-religious couple’s baby shower.