Telugu actor Faria Abdullah broke down in an emotional social media video whereas responding to the trolling she confronted over her participation in Hyderabad’s Bonalu celebrations. She attended the Bonalu festivities on August 10 on the Sri Mahankaleshwara Ammavari Temple in Miralam Mandi.
Wearing conventional apparel, Faria carried a Bonam and joined devotees within the celebrations. Movies of her dancing to dappu beats on the temple quickly went viral on social media.
Nonetheless, her participation additionally drew criticism from a bit of social media customers who questioned her presence at a Hindu pageant, citing her Muslim background. Some customers went so far as calling her a “kafir” and accusing her of going towards her religion.
Reacting to the backlash, Faria grew to become emotional and addressed the criticism in an Instagram video, explaining why she selected to take part within the celebrations.
“My dad is a transformed Muslim bro. Do you perceive what meaning? He received transformed to Islam as a result of he preferred the faith,” she mentioned whereas talking about her father, Sanjay Abdullah, who was born a Hindu and later transformed to Islam.
She defined that rising up in such a household formed her understanding of faith and spirituality. Faria mentioned she had all the time seen the optimistic facets of Islam and questioned why celebrating one other neighborhood’s cultural traditions needs to be handled as a rejection of 1’s personal religion.
“What sort of an upbringing would I’ve had if somebody have been bringing me up, exhibiting me all the great issues a few faith as a result of they beloved it a lot that they wished to just accept it. I’ve all the time seen the great about Islam. I actually want good issues for you bro really,” the actor added.
Responding to these calling her a “kafir”, Faria mentioned she wouldn’t reply to hatred with hatred.
“Whoever is hating on me, whoever thinks that essential galat jaa rahi hoon, kafir hoon (I’m going down the incorrect path, I’m a kafir), no matter you need to say, I want you properly for you bro,” the Kalki 2898 AD actor mentioned.
She mentioned she sees life in timber, rocks and butterflies and believes that the fantastic thing about creation ought to deliver folks nearer to God slightly than create divisions.
Faria additional mentioned that she prays for “love, unity and peace”, describing her choice to unfold love regardless of the trolling as her “insurrection” and “revolution.”
She then delivered essentially the most putting a part of her message, saying, “I need to be aggressive about my love and I might be. I’ll ship like to all of you who’re hating on me proper now as a result of I do know that my coronary heart is true. I do know I’ve skilled the love, I’ve skilled the blessings and skilled what gratitude can do for you.”
In the direction of the top of the video, she even recalled a childhood dialog together with her mom when a curious Faria requested her mom concerning the that means of the phrase “Allah.”
“Once I was a child, I requested my mother, ‘ What is that this phrase, Allah? What does it imply? She simply mentioned it means mild. It means every little thing all over the place unexpectedly. How will you exclude one thing from every little thing all over the place unexpectedly?” she mentioned.
The actor had additionally spoken concerning the problem within the Ice Breaking With Isaac podcast, explaining that temples and different locations of worship have all the time been sacred to her as a result of she was raised in a multicultural household.
Faria mentioned she had by no means skilled Bonalu earlier than and wished to take part as a result of it was a part of the tradition she grew up round. She described the pageant’s environment as one thing she deeply related with.
What’s Bonalu celebration?
Bonalu is a standard Hindu people pageant devoted to Goddess Mahakali and her regional kinds, together with Yellamma. Celebrated yearly through the Hindu month of Ashada (July-August), primarily in Hyderabad, Secunderabad and throughout Telangana, the pageant is noticed as a thanksgiving providing for well being, security and the safety of the neighborhood.
Why was Faria trolled?
Faria attended Hyderabad’s Bonalu celebrations on August 10, 2026, on the historic Sri Mahankaleshwara Ammavari Temple in Miralam Mandi’s Outdated Metropolis. She actively took half within the festivities and likewise fulfilled a childhood dream by carrying the normal Bangaru Bonam.
Whereas many praised the actress for embracing Telangana’s tradition and its spirit of inclusivity, a bit of social media customers criticised her participation as a result of she was born right into a Muslim household.
The backlash prompted Faria to open up about her multicultural upbringing and her private understanding of faith.
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