When Javed Akhtar said festivals belong to tradition; 'Leave religion, leave culture. Culture is a beautiful thing'

When Javed Akhtar said festivals belong to tradition; 'Leave religion, leave culture. Culture is a beautiful thing'

Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, identifying as an atheist, explained his continued celebration of festivals like Holi, Diwali, Eid, and Christmas as a matter of preserving India's rich cultural heritage. He emphasized that these traditions predate organized religions and are vital to the nation's identity, arguing against abandoning them due to religious differences. His wife, Shabana Azmi, recently shared a glimpse of his traditional writing pro…