Community messages call for private festivities and caution over social media posts as concerns grow over racist rhetoric in Texas
Indian-Americans in the US are being urged to keep this year’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations private, with community messages calling for home-based festivities amid concerns over rising anti-Indian rhetoric and racism.
Ganesh Chaturthi, which celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, will be observed on September 14. The festival is traditionally marked by prayers, idol installations and public gatherings organised by Indian communities across cities including New York, Philadelphia, Seattle and Dallas.
A graphic circulated by the Instagram account Nris_Adda, which has more than 200,000 followers, advised Indians to celebrate with their families at home and avoid group events in apartments, neighbourhoods, roads and other public spaces, particularly in Dallas.
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The message also encouraged people to decline invitations to public celebrations and asked content creators not to post videos or photographs of group festivities
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It specifically urged caution around public mandaps, large gatherings, road events and idol immersion ceremonies
The advisory has since been shared by other accounts focused on Indian-American issues, including M9 USA, which called for the message to be circulated widely.
The calls for discretion come against a backdrop of growing anti-Indian rhetoric online, particularly in Texas. Some influencers linked to the MAGA movement have portrayed the growing Indian-American population, Hindu temples and community festivals as evidence of an alleged “Indian invasion”.
Tensions have also spilled into public demonstrations. In June, armed white supremacists gathered outside Frisco City Hall and protested what they described as an “Indian invasion”, according to the report.
A Stop AAPI Hate survey cited by India Today found that online slurs targeting Indians and South Asians increased by 109%, rising from 22,996 in January 2023 to 48,033 in December 2025.
Against this backdrop, some members of the Indian-American community appear to be opting for quieter celebrations, with organisers and content creators urged to prioritise safety and avoid giving racist campaigns additional material.
