Texas Neighbours Call Firefighters On Indian Family Performing Griha Pravesh ‘Havan'
An Indian family in Texas was performing havan which included fire which the neighbours mistook for a fire hazard and called the firefighters.
A video of firefighters arriving at a Texas home during a Hindu puja has gone viral on social media. The video, first shared on Instagram, shows a fire truck from the Bedford Fire Department outside an Indian family's home. The family was performing a havan (fire ritual) as part of a housewarming ceremony when firefighters showed up, apparently alerted by neighbours who saw smoke.
The text on the viral video read, 'Cultural misunderstanding 101: A Hindu puja is not a fire emergency. When you're having a housewarming havan and the fire department pulls up."
What the Video Shows
The clip opens with the family performing the ritual inside their smoke-filled garage. Soon after, firefighters arrive and speak to the family. It is unclear from the video whether any legal action was taken or if the family violated fire safety rules in the area.
One social media user who shared the clip on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, 'A group of Indians were worshipping the Hindu fire god in Texas and the neighbours called the fire fighters on them."
A group of Indians were worshipping the Hindu fire god in Texas, and the neighbors call the fire fighters on them. pic.twitter.com/9mSBeJbVpn — Papa Tiger (@BengaliFalcon71) August 4, 2025
The video has sparked a debate about cultural awareness and safety rules. Some criticised the family for performing a fire-based ritual inside a home in the US, where houses are often built with wooden walls. 'Doing this in foreign countries, where houses are made of dry wooden walls. I condemn this behaviour and will never accept it as a cultural practice," one user wrote.
Another added: 'You got to follow the rules of the country you live in. They don't follow our religion so they won't understand it. They should have got a permit to do the havan from the fire department."
Others defended the family's right to practise their culture. 'These people didn't hurt anyone or damage property. They were having a simple pooja. People grill food in their garage and no one calls the fire department for that," one user noted.
Pride in Cultural Traditions
Many Indian Americans also expressed pride. 'I am a first-generation born and raised Indian American, and this makes me proud. I've had a puja for every house I've owned and every big life event," one person commented.
The incident has reignited a conversation on balancing cultural practices with local laws and safety standards abroad.
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