Lost In Translation! Desi Explains Pongal To A Westerner, They Thinks It's 'Like Coachella'

There is a lot we can¡¯t explain about India to those abroad. Whether it be the food or the dresses, most of our cultural context gets lost somewhere in translation when it reaches the heart of the western world.

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Desi Tries To Explain Pongal To White Friends

Something of the sort happened when a desi tried to inform a white friend that they would be attending the Pongal festival. The desi was surprised by a random question from the western friends, who asked, "Who¡¯s the headliner?"

At first, the Indian was confused and explained to their western friend that Pongal is a "Tamil harvest festival." Finally, the nail hit the head and the westerner understood that they had the wrong festival in mind. The white friend joked, ¡°I thought it¡¯s like Coachella.¡±

Twitter user Whiskeyblues posted the screenshot of the conversation on social media and wrote in the caption, ¡°when I try to explain Indian festivals to my white friends.¡±

when I try to explain Indian festivals to my white friends ??? pic.twitter.com/1OdoPMuKVf

¡ª whiskeyblues (@twopointhoe_) January 12, 2023

Coachella Is One Of The World's Largest Music Festivals Held In California, USA

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For those unfamiliar, Coachella is one of the world¡¯s biggest music festivals and takes place over two weeks in California, USA. Just to clarify, it is most definitely nothing like Pongal.

People online cracked up when they saw the exchange between the two friends. A user simply wrote, "CRYING."

CRYING

¡ª abby govindan (@abbygov) January 14, 2023

While another shared their own anecdote, ¡°That's why we shouldn't even try, i remember trying to explain what Holi was and the reply i got was "so y'all get drunk to throw colors at each other that you cannot remove for the next few days?, Why is that a festival, what are y'all celebrating getting drunk?"

That's why we shouldn't even try?, i remember trying to explain what Holi was and the reply i got was "so y'all get drunk to throw colors at each other that you cannot remove for the next few days?, Why is that a festival, what are y'all celebrating getting drunk?"

¡ª Vishesh Singh (@18vishesh1) January 13, 2023

A fellow joked, ¡°headliner is venpongal+chutney. opening act is sambhar vada.¡±

headliner is venpongal+chutney. opening act is sambhar vada

¡ª Akilesh Kannan ? (@aklsh22) January 13, 2023

One user pointed out that in India festivals are a daily occurrence, ¡°If you're religious enough then there's an Indian festival every week.¡±

If you're religious enough then there's an Indian festival every week

¡ª Ojasvi Yadav (@ojasvi_yadav) January 13, 2023

One commenter said, ¡°To be fair, festival is only ever used in that context here (food festival, music festival, art, comedy, wine tasting, beer crafting, harvest etc.) Religious holidays are just that, religious holidays.¡±

To be fair, festival is only ever used in that context here (food festival, music festival, art, comedy, wine tasting, beer crafting, harvest etc.)
Religious holidays are just that, religious holidays.

¡ª Moistly Harmless (@moistlyharmless) January 14, 2023

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