The Tradition of Fan Extremes: When Love Becomes a Spectacle
To understand why the Raipur poster is so organically viral, you have to appreciate the glorious, no-holds-barred nature of Indian fandom. This isn't a culture that does quiet appreciation; we do spectacles. We do commitment. And we do a whole lot of crazy things out of pure love:
The Milk Abhishekam: Perhaps the most iconic display is when fans douse movie posters or cutouts of their favourite South Indian film stars, like Rajinikanth or Vijay, in milk (abhishekam), a ritual traditionally reserved for Hindu deities. The practice is a powerful, almost religious declaration of devotion.
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Temple Building: Fans have famously erected small temples dedicated to Bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan and cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, turning human idols into cultural deities.
The Birthday Blockbuster: The biggest superstars have fans who will spend exorbitant amounts of money, sometimes their entire savings, to arrange elaborate, community-wide birthday celebrations or charity events in the star’s name.
These acts aren't just one-offs; they form a proud, ongoing tradition of demonstrating devotion in the most public and over-the-top way possible. They prove that in India, a star is a god, a friend, and a local VIP all rolled into one.
