Alia Bhatt Faces Online Backlash Over Manja Awareness Post During Makar Sankranti

Recently, Alia Bhatt, the leading lady of Bollywood, shared the negative impact that manja can have on birds through her social media account. Manja is the glass-coated kite string that is used extensively during Makar Sankranti. In an Instagram story, she made a leading reel that stated persons who are mainly interested in birds should bear the responsibility if they happen to find injured birds during the kite-flying festival and even urged her followers to act justly in case they find injured birds. Along with the video, she expressed her good wishes for the Makar Sankranti festival and reminded everyone that “a little bit of love goes a long way”.

Why Manja Is Harmful to Birds and Humans

Manja, mainly nylon or glass-coated, is very sharp and non-biodegradable; hence, it becomes a killer for the birds that mistakenly fly into it. The wire can tear the wings, necks, and beaks, causing death or making birds flightless. Not only wildlife but also the manja presents serious challenges to pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. There have already been some cases of severe cuts and accidents reported during the festive season, which is quite the safety concern.

Immediate Backlash and Accusations

Although the post was meant to do good, it still instantly created a lot of negative feedback through social media channels. Besides, a vast number of people blamed Alia for either doubting or belittling traditional practices, asserting that making manja well-known was the same as pointing out faults in the highly regarded religious custom. The sharing of screenshots depicting her erased Instagram story became a controversy on sites such as X, where the debates got stronger.

Claims of Hypocrisy and Contradictions

Critics did not solely target the message content. The majority of internet users alleged that there was a contradiction between her environmental call and her personal choices. Not only did some users consider her a hypocrite for being the global ambassador of Gucci, a luxury brand famous for its leather products, but they also pointed to her previous pictures in leather jackets and doubted the genuineness of her advocacy. Her personal lifestyle choices, such as her eating habits and fashion tastes, came up in the discussion, which mirrored the disposition of certain social media users to analyze and politicize celebrity behavior.

Why Gucci Faces Criticism in Sustainability Debates

Gucci is frequently the center of discussions on sustainability due to its connection with luxury leather, animal-based materials, and the high-fashion production’s environmental impact. Detractors claim that even though the company has made a great deal of noise about going carbon-neutral and implementing environmentally friendly practices, it still primarily operates in a manner that is regarded as either harmful or ethically wrong. This tension is precisely why the topic of Alia Bhatt’s appointment as global ambassador was raised by social media users who were not sure if her message about awareness, although not in line with the brand she is representing, was appropriate.

Support from Fans and Ongoing Debate

Negative responses were not the only ones. Alia’s fans and supporters came to her rescue, saying that her intentions were good, pointing out that she never forbade kite flying but rather informed how to save the birds if they are encountered. They claimed that her message was more about love and care and less about a cultural issue. However, the debate drew more and more attention because people were discussing the involvement of stars in public opinions and the limits of individual freedom versus respect for culture.

The Larger Conversation on Social Media

This incident highlights the fact that even the most innocent and positive messages from public personalities might get misinterpreted or, what is worse, rejected in the fast-paced world of social media. Celebrities are living in a time when every single word they say is closely examined, and they have to go through a difficult path where their support of a cause and deeds are analyzed and criticized for incongruities or wider meanings. The reaction to Alia Bhatt’s post reflects larger difficulties public figures encounter in raising awareness without offending cultural feelings and, most importantly, individual preferences.