Hema Malini

Guwahati, April 14: Hema Malini, a prominent Bollywood actor, and BJP politician has apologized after being trolled on social media for mistakenly referring to Bihu, a festival celebrated in Assam, as a festival of Bihar.

Bihu is one of the most important festivals of Assam and marks the beginning of the harvest season, celebrated from April 14 to April 20 this year.

The actor-turned-politician posted a tweet on April 13, wishing everyone a happy festival month and mentioning Tamizh Puthandu, Baisakhi, Bihu, and Pohela Baisakh or Naba Barsha as some of the festivals celebrated during this time.

However, her mistake of referring to Bihu as a festival of Bihar instead of Assam was immediately noticed and criticized by many social media users.

One user wrote, “You are absolutely wrong madam, Bihu belongs to Assam only, We just achieved the Guinness world record today as the maximum number of Folk performers in a single venue. It’s our festival Bohag Bihu. Please learn about the northeast a little bit.”

Another user sarcastically commented, “With this tweet, Bihar is mandated to celebrate BIHU. SLOW CLAP.”

Also Read: PM Modi Inaugurates AIIMS Guwahati and Launches Development Projects in Assam

Realizing her mistake, Hema Malini immediately took to social media to apologize for her error. In a tweet, she wrote, “By mistake, I have put Bihu is a festival celebrated in Bihar. I am sorry! That should read Bihu, the festival of Assam.”

The incident has sparked a debate on social media about the lack of awareness among people outside the Northeast about the culture and traditions of the region. Many people have called for greater efforts to educate people about the Northeast and its rich cultural heritage.

This incident also highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and the need for politicians and public figures to be more careful when addressing diverse communities and their traditions. It is crucial to promote cultural diversity and respect for all cultures, especially in a country as diverse as India.