American YouTuber Faces Backlash After Filming Traditional Karnataka Cow Dung Festival: Cultural Controversy Explained

An American YouTuber has defended his recording of a traditional cow dung festival in Karnataka, which sparked controversy after being shared with his millions of followers online.

Tyler Oliveira, 25, published footage on October 23 from Gumatapura village's annual Gorehabba festival, where community members celebrate the conclusion of Diwali by throwing cow dung at each other. The sacred ritual honors the village deity Beereshwara Swamy, who according to local beliefs, was born from cow dung. After posting his video, Oliveira faced significant criticism for what many perceived as a "racist" portrayal of a culturally significant tradition.

In response to the backlash, Oliveira stated on social media, "It isn't racist to film a poop-throwing festival."

In his video titled "Inside India's Poop-Throwing Festival," Oliveira appears dressed in protective overalls and goggles, navigating through crowds as participants enthusiastically throw cow dung. During the footage, he exclaims, "Spare me, so much sh*t," after being struck by large pieces of dung, later adding, "I gotta get out of here," while attempting to leave the muddy festival grounds.

The content creator subsequently released another video titled "I Survived India's Poop-Throwing Festival," showing himself walking barefoot, consuming water, and still covered in dung residue.

On the social platform X, Oliveira shared an image of himself with brown stains, writing, "Happy Diwali! Yes, I went to India's poop throwing festival. It was the sh*ttiest experience of my life. I will never go back. Please pray that I survive."

The videos prompted criticism from Indian social media users who accused the YouTuber of mocking a traditional celebration and transforming it into entertainment. Many critics pointed out that Oliveira disregarded the religious significance of the festival and presented it as something bizarre for Western audiences.

One X user commented, "Why do you have to come to India and then record a video of a cow dung festival by going in the middle of the event and then cry like a loser! You sh*tty fellow. You can record poop in Western countries, plenty on streets of California. Human poop you can have record in your countries. Make videos."

Another critic wrote, "Tyler Oliveira enters India pretending to be a vlogger only hunts for the dirtiest corners chicken markets, garbage dumps, and now some little known village festival. He's not here to explore; he's here to defame. It's hard to believe this isn't part of a planned smear campaign."

Following the criticism, Oliveira claimed his content was being censored and mass-reported by Indian viewers.

The Gorehabba festival, celebrated annually on the day after Diwali, is regarded by locals as a symbol of purification and renewal. Villagers collect cow dung from temple grounds, perform prayers, and participate in the ritualistic throwing of dung to celebrate prosperity and ward off negative energies.