Priyanka Chopra trolled for eating non-veg at Diwali party in Los Angeles
Synopsis
Priyanka Chopra Jonas's Diwali photos from Los Angeles drew an unexpected storm — not for the celebrations, but for the food on her plate. Netizens called out the presence of non-vegetarian dishes during a festival many observe with a strict vegetarian diet, reigniting the perennial debate about how diaspora celebrities practise their cultural traditions.
Key Takeaways
Priyanka Chopra Jonas shared photos of her Diwali celebrations at her Los Angeles home on 9 November .
Netizens criticised her for eating non-vegetarian food during the festival, flooding her post's comments section.
Some users also objected to the use of candles instead of traditional diyas .
During Dussehra , Priyanka had shared puja, havan and Kanya Pujan rituals at her home, drawing praise for keeping Indian traditions alive.
She has been seen teaching daughter Malti Indian Hindu shlokas in earlier videos.
Priyanka has not publicly responded to the trolling as of now.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas faced a wave of social media criticism on 9 November after sharing photographs from her Diwali celebrations at her Los Angeles home, with netizens zeroing in on the presence of non-vegetarian food at the festive gathering. The backlash erupted in the comments section of her post almost immediately after it went live.
What Triggered the Trolling
In one of the pictures from her Diwali spread, Priyanka was seen eating a non-vegetarian dish. For many followers, this conflicted with the traditional practice of observing a vegetarian diet during the festival. Comments flooded in questioning her choice, with users writing things like 'Non veg in Diwali,' 'How can someone eat non-veg on Diwali,' and 'You are eating non-veg on Diwali.'
The criticism extended beyond the food — one commenter also remarked on her outfit and styling, writing, 'My favourite diva suddenly nothing is going well, the outfit, the jewellery and the hair do, suddenly everything is going wrong, for the first time.' Another user flagged the use of candles over traditional diyas, writing, 'Why candle, why not diyas.'
Priyanka's Track Record of Celebrating Indian Festivals Abroad
The trolling comes despite Priyanka having consistently made efforts to keep Indian traditions alive in her life in the United States. During Dussehra recently, she shared glimpses of celebrations at her Los Angeles home that included a puja, Shivling Abhishek, havan, and Kanya Pujan. One photograph showed her husband Nick Jonas washing their daughter Malti's feet as part of the ritual, with the little girl dressed in an ivory outfit and a red scarf bearing the words 'Jai Mata Di.'
The actress has also been seen in earlier videos teaching Malti Indian Hindu shlokas, drawing appreciation from fans who have noted her efforts to pass on her cultural roots to her daughter.
The Broader Debate
The controversy reflects a recurring tension in public discourse around diaspora communities — the question of which practices define authentic cultural observance and who gets to draw that line. Priyanka is not the first celebrity to face scrutiny over festival food choices, and the debate often surfaces afresh each festive season. Notably, the backlash sat alongside praise from other followers who appreciated her effort to celebrate Diwali away from India at all.
As of now, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has not publicly responded to the criticism.
Point of View
And it rarely engages with the more complex reality of diaspora life — where cultural identity is maintained selectively, imperfectly, and sometimes inventively. Priyanka's track record of marking Dussehra with havan rituals and teaching her daughter Hindu shlokas is conveniently set aside in these moments. The real question the pile-on raises is not what she ate, but why Indian social media reserves its sharpest scrutiny for women celebrities navigating dual cultures.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Priyanka Chopra Jonas trolled for her Diwali celebration?
Priyanka Chopra Jonas was trolled after she shared photos of her Diwali celebrations in Los Angeles that showed her eating non-vegetarian food, which many followers consider contrary to the traditional practice of observing a vegetarian diet during Diwali. The criticism appeared in her post's comments section almost immediately.
What did netizens say in the comments?
Users wrote comments such as 'Non veg in Diwali,' 'How can someone eat non-veg on Diwali,' and 'You are eating non-veg on Diwali.' Some also objected to her use of candles rather than traditional diyas, while one commenter criticised her outfit and styling as well.
How has Priyanka Chopra Jonas typically celebrated Indian festivals abroad?
Priyanka has regularly incorporated Indian rituals into her family life in the United States. During Dussehra, she shared glimpses of puja, Shivling Abhishek, havan, and Kanya Pujan at her Los Angeles home. She has also been seen teaching her daughter Malti Indian Hindu shlokas in earlier videos.
Has Priyanka Chopra Jonas responded to the trolling?
As of 9 November, Priyanka Chopra Jonas had not publicly responded to the social media criticism over her Diwali food choices.
Is this the first time a Bollywood celebrity has been trolled over festival food choices?
No, the debate over non-vegetarian food during festivals like Diwali resurfaces on social media almost every year, often involving public figures. Priyanka's case reflects a broader and recurring online discourse about what constitutes authentic cultural or religious observance, particularly for Indian celebrities living abroad.
