IIT-Kanpur under fire for naming Diwali celebration event as 'Jashn-e-Roshni', deletes post after backlash

The Academics & Career Council (ANC) of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur named Diwali celebrations event as “Jashn-e-Roshni,”, a move stirring significant public outrage. The term "Jashn-e-Roshni," translates to festival of lights in Urdu.

The backlash was swift, with many on social media interpreting the renaming of the Diwali event as a disregard for traditional culture and a potential affront to Hindu cultural values, after which the post was deleted. It was posted on official Instagram handle of IIT Kanpur’s Academic and Career Council (ANC).

Now The Academics & Career Council at IIT Kanpur has referred to Diwali as "Jashn-e-Roshni," raising concerns about the renaming of the festival with Urdu or Arabic terms! pic.twitter.com/Ho6Lx71mTk

— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) October 27, 2024

Critics questioned why terms like “Deepawali” or “Deepotsav”—which are traditional names for Diwali—were overlooked in favor of Urdu. “Is it too pedestrian for IIT Kanpur’s International Relations Wing to pronounce Diwali or Deepawali?” questioned one user.

Is it too pedestrian for @IITKanpur’s Int’l Relations Wing to pronounce Deepawali, Diwali or Deepotsav? Why do you guys have to put your head in urdu arse to sound cool?

Jashn-e-Lahsun is not Diwali, for fucks sake. pic.twitter.com/YhSRqoR9ha

— Ajeet Bharti (@ajeetbharti) October 28, 2024

Others were more outspoken, accusing the administration of attempting to sound “cool” at the expense of Hindu traditions.

“What was the dying compulsion to change Diwali to 'Jashn-e-Roshni'?” another outraged commentator wrote. “Are you taunting Hindus of Bharat?”

Dear IITs of India, just don't celebrate any Hindu festivals. Nobody is forcing you to, nobody is asking you to, nobody wants you to. But if you MUST do it, don't change the names of our festivals to ones suggested by some ganja smoking sexual pervert from humanities.… pic.twitter.com/pRZWWGHJ5C

— Eminent Intellectual (@total_woke_) October 27, 2024

Several vocal critics warned that they would escalate their protest, threatening to release the names of the event organizers and even involve local religious organizations like Bajrang Dal if their concerns were not addressed.

IIT Kanpur is celebrating Diwali in NOT in Sanatan Dharam style. Nomenclature is very important. Their insta id is : anciitk pic.twitter.com/QJ6OyiVgsv

— Farrago Abdullah Parody (@abdullah_0mar) October 28, 2024

Public concerns underscore a larger debate around secularism, cultural representation, and institutional sensitivity in India’s leading educational institutions.

While the post has been deleted, IIT Kanpur is yet to issue a formal response addressing these concerns.