World Connect News
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan found himself at the center of social media attention after a video surfaced showing him performing aarti in the wrong direction during Ganpati Visarjan festivities at his brother Sohail Khan’s Mumbai residence. While several netizens criticized the slip-up as an “anti-aarti” or “ulti aarti”, fans were quick to highlight the heartwarming moment his younger sister, Arpita Khan Sharma, stepped in to guide him.
The Aarti Slip-Up and Sibling Intervention
The viral clip captures the Khan family gathered around the Ganpati idol to perform the traditional ritual prior to immersion in a dedicated water tank on the residential premises. When Salman held the aarti thali, he began rotating it anti-clockwise instead of the customary clockwise direction. Sister Alvira Khan Agnihotri spotted the error first and alerted Arpita. With loud devotional chants drowning out her voice, Arpita reached forward, gently tapped Salman’s hand, and demonstrated the correct motion. Realizing his innocent mistake, Salman smiled, promptly reversed the rotation, and humorously guided others taking their turn with the thali.
Online Backlash Meets Fan Support
The footage quickly sparked divided reactions across social platforms. A section of users took aim at the superstar, labeling the ritual an “anti-aarti” and alleging a lack of proper ritual understanding. Conversely, thousands of admirers defended the actor, pointing out that unintentional mistakes during worship are common and praising the genuine, unscripted sibling dynamic on display. Many praised Arpita for calmly stepping up, calling it a classic brother-sister exchange that resonated with households across the country.
Longstanding Family Tradition of Inclusivity
The Khan household has hosted Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations for over two decades, honoring the diverse cultural heritage of Salman’s parents, screenwriter Salim Khan and mother Salma Khan (born Sushila Charak). The private family event drew several close relatives and friends, including Sohail Khan, Arhaan Khan, Nirvan Khan, Helen, and Iulia Vantur, who also joined in offering prayers before the idol was immersed.