At a time when people are busy gearing up for the biggest Hindu festival, Diwali, several social media users have been outraging over an image that seems like an invitation extended by the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on the occasion of Diwali. Netizens have claimed that the statutory body is organising an event called ‘Jashn-e-Roshni’ on the occasion of the Hindu festival. FSSAI has, however, denied organising any such event on the occasion of Diwali.
The invite, the image of which has gone viral on social media, read that the department is organising an event called ‘Jashn-e-Roshni’ at 10 AM on December 9 at its head office in New Delhi, to celebrate the Hindu festival.
The cultural appropriation of the Hindu festival left several Hindu Netizens fuming. Not many favoured Diwali being loosely translated to ‘Jashn-e-Roshni,’ which they said hurt their religious sentiments.
Following the outrage, the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Tuesday, November 7 took to X to clarify that it has not organised any event purportedly named ‘Jashn-e-Roshni’, as is being circulated in social media. It added that the image that is being shared online was not issued or approved by FSSAI.
The @fssaiindia is not organising any event purportedly named 'Jashn-e-Roshni', as is being circulated in social media. The image being shared on social media has not been issued or approved by FSSAI.@MoHFW_INDIA
— FSSAI (@fssaiindia) November 7, 2023
FSSAI gets slammed for naming a Diwali event ‘Jashn-e-Roshni’
The appropriation of the biggest Hindu festival left several Hindus completely exasperated. They were angry at the government of India for attempting to unduly secularize the Hindu festival.
“Courtesy of Modi, Diwali is now Jashn E Roshni. While IT selliye were abusing LSR for using a similar term for Diwali Thank you Modi Ji,” wrote X user @3vires sharing the picture of the event allegedly organised by FSSAI, the statutory body established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Courtesy of Modi, Diwali is now
— Dant vires Gloriam! (@3vires) November 7, 2023
Jashn E Roshni.
While IT selliye were abusing LSR for using a similar term for Diwali 😂😂😂
Thank you Modi Ji. pic.twitter.com/v48CmXVeAD
Many others also expressed their annoyance with the central government for terming Diwali as ‘Jashn-e-Roshni’.
Diwali became Jashn E Roshni
— Swathi Bellam (@BellamSwathi) November 7, 2023
If you thought only Bollywood urduised hindu festivals
No even Govt of India is doing it it officially. Such a shame 🤦🏾♀️ pic.twitter.com/LBqrsGnVo0
Renamed India to Bharat to appear culturally inclined.
— Ā ॐ (@SriHariBhakt) November 7, 2023
Renamed the Hindu festival Diwali to Jashn-e-Roshni to appease the minorities.
Masterstroke. 🤡🤡 https://t.co/xmCBHUp7cs
FSSAI issues a clarification
The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has said that it is not organizing an event named ‘Jashn-e-Roshni.’ The FSSAI tweeted that the image being shared on social media has not been issued or approved by them.
FSSAI organised an event with the same name last Diwali
It may be noted that FSSAI did organize a cultural event called ‘Jashn-e-Roshni’ in 2022 to celebrate the festive season. They also conducted various competitions for their employees.
Evidently, this did not go unnoticed by internet users, as several individuals pointed it out following the FSSAI’s clarification.
That's a lie. You guys organised it last year too. Here is the pdf link and its screenshot of the event details from your own website. See point VII (Miscellaneous activities) in the last.https://t.co/bmCBUYwwoG pic.twitter.com/ZGALsiOpkv
— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) November 7, 2023
FSSAI celebrated 'Jashn-e-Roshni' on 19-20 Oct 2022 too. Are they not organizing it this year because of social media outrage?
— Arjun* (@mxtaverse) November 7, 2023
Source: https://t.co/XCoalP4Z2r https://t.co/2ig1fD3Z3U pic.twitter.com/OmEJfmKIDR
While sharing the screenshot of the 2022 gazette notification issued by the department, people asked the government of India to immediately terminate the official responsible for this.
