Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Indian Man’s Australia-India Holiday Comparison Sparks Online Debate
Aditya Khaneja made a video comparing holidays in Australia and India.
He said some Australian holidays are based on sports, horse racing, fairs and local events.
He mentioned the AFL Grand Final, Melbourne Cup Day, the Royal Queensland Show and Picnic Day in Darwin.
He said Indian holidays are often connected to festivals such as Diwali and events such as Independence Day.
He also discussed days off that may be given when holidays fall on weekends.
Khaneja joked that this may help explain why Australians are called laid-back.
Some people agreed with him online.
Others said holiday rules differ between Australian states or that India also has many holidays.
Khaneja said Australia has 13 public holidays in a year.
Aditya Khaneja, an Indian man living in Australia, compared public holidays in both countries in an Instagram video.
He cited Australian holidays connected to sport, horse racing, local fairs and regional events.
Khaneja contrasted these with Indian holidays linked largely to religious festivals and national occasions.
He said substitute days may apply when Australian public holidays fall on weekends, depending on local rules.
The video prompted mixed reactions, including disputes over holiday differences and his claim that Australia has 13 public holidays annually.
- Who
- Aditya Khaneja, an Indian man who says he has lived in Australia for 10 years, and social-media users who responded to his video.
- What
- A humorous comparison of public holiday traditions and arrangements in Australia and India.
- When
- The video’s publication date is not specified; it has since attracted online attention.
- Where
- The discussion concerns Australia and India, with examples from Australian states and territories.
- Why
- Khaneja wanted to compare why people receive public holidays in the two countries and jokingly discuss Australia’s laid-back reputation.
Holiday Traditions Reflect Different Cultures
The Comparison Needs More Context
What public holidays represent
Holiday Traditions Reflect Different Cultures
Khaneja presented Australian holidays as often connected to sport, horse racing, fairs and local events, unlike India’s emphasis on religious festivals and national occasions.
The Comparison Needs More Context
Some users argued that India also has many holidays and a relaxed lifestyle, challenging the implication that the two countries differ so sharply.
Whether Australia has one holiday system
Holiday Traditions Reflect Different Cultures
Khaneja discussed weekend substitute days and gave a figure of 13 annual public holidays.
The Comparison Needs More Context
Other users noted that public holiday arrangements vary across Australia; one specifically said New South Wales does not have some holidays mentioned in the video.
- Person
- Aditya Khaneja
- Platform
- Australian examples
- AFL Grand Final, Melbourne Cup Day, Royal Queensland Show and Picnic Day in Darwin
- Indian examples
- Diwali and Independence Day
- Weekend holidays
- Friday or Monday substitute days may apply, depending on state or territory arrangements
- Claimed annual total
- Khaneja said Australia has 13 public holidays
- Online response
- Users both supported and challenged his comparison