Gorahabba: Tradition lost in racism

A post-Diwali festival in an Indian village triggered racist reactions world over.

Transcript

00:00How am I supposed to see this and not become racist?

00:02Poopjeet, then get mad when they are called Poopjeet.

00:05And none of them showed afterwards.

00:07These racially biased comments were triggered on many international news platforms

00:11after they posted videos of Gurhaba, a unique post-Diwali festival in Gomatapura village

00:16on the Karnataka-Tamilnaru border.

00:18During the festival, participants threw cow dunk at each other to mark the end of Diwali.

00:23What began as a joyful, muddy ritual quickly became a target of racist stereotypes and ridicule.

00:28In reality, Gurhaba is a small village festival rooted in the belief that the local deity

00:33Bereshwara Swami was born from cow dunk.

00:35For many practicing Hinduism, cow dunk holds deep spiritual value, sacred, purifying and

00:40central to ritual renewal and sustainable living.

00:43Many international news agencies compare this festival to Spain's La Tomatina, a tomato-throwing celebration.

00:49In Gomatapura, however, villagers fling something far more earthy at each other.

00:54Perhaps Gurhaba looks strange to outsiders.

00:56But for the villagers, throwing cow dunk is not just playful.

00:59They believe it also brings good health and prosperity.

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