Indian tourists have sparked a discussion after a viral video showed them performing Garba on the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa.
Clad in matching yellow attire, the tourists showcased the traditional Gujarati Garba dance to the Bollywood song Chogada from the 2018 film Loveyatri. The video was captured and uploaded on Instagram by Dubai-based content creator @the_walking_lens_ on June 15, garnering thousands of views and mixed reactions.
Some applauded the group for displaying Indian culture on an international platform. “Lovely to see our culture celebrated,” commented one user. However, others criticized it as inappropriate for a busy tourist location. “Why is this applauded? Public spaces should be respected,” read one comment.
Another user added, “RIP civic sense.”
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This isn’t the first instance of Indian tourists dancing in public spaces abroad. Earlier this month, a group drew attention in Vienna by performing Garba to music by local artists. Users have noted this trend of spontaneous cultural displays, mentioning other occurrences in places like Pangong Lake in India, Times Square in New York, and London streets.
While some expatriates supported these acts as joyful, others found them disruptive. In the Burj Khalifa video’s case, critics claimed the performance might have inconvenienced other visitors and neglected public space etiquette. “Money can’t buy class,” one user remarked. A Dubai resident commented, “I saw the video. It was lively, but it blocked the view for others. Visitors pay to enjoy the views, not navigate around flash mobs.”
It’s unclear if the performance was pre-approved by Emaar, the firm behind Burj Khalifa.
Khaleej Times has contacted Emaar for a response, which was pending at the time of this report.
