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'Australians are laid-back': Indian man compares public holidays in Australia and India, internet reacts

The Indian man living in Australia humorously compared the reasons behind public holidays in the two countries.

Published on: Oct 1, 2026, 22:49:41 IST
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An Indian man living in Australia has sparked a discussion online after sharing his take on the difference between public holidays in Australia and India. In an Instagram video, Aditya Khaneja, who said he has been living in Australia for 10 years, humorously compared the reasons behind public holidays in the two countries.

Aditya Khaneja said he has been living in Australia for 10 years. (Unsplash/Representational image)
Aditya Khaneja said he has been living in Australia for 10 years. (Unsplash/Representational image)

“I want to talk about public holidays. I’ve been in Australia for 10 years, and I’ve realised that people here don’t seem to like anything more than having fun,” Khaneja said in the video.

He went on to mention several holidays observed in different parts of Australia. Referring to the AFL Grand Final, he joked that people get a Friday off to have fun. He also mentioned the Melbourne Cup Day holiday, questioning why people get a day off because of a horse race.

Khaneja then referred to the Royal Queensland Show holiday in Queensland, describing it as a day off to go to a fair, while also mentioning Picnic Day in Darwin.

Comparing this with India, he said Indians get public holidays for religious and significant occasions. “India mein kitni religious aur kitni, matlab, auspicious cheezon ki chhutti milti hai na,” he said, before citing Independence Day and Diwali as examples.

(Also Read: Australian naturopath Barbara O’Neill detained in Qatar, released after hours of questioning: 'It was very upsetting')

In the clip, Khaneja also joked about the difference in how holidays falling on weekends are handled. “If Diwali falls on a Saturday in India, it feels like the end of the world. Here, if a holiday falls on a Saturday, the government says, ‘Don’t worry, take Friday as a public holiday.’ And if it falls on Sunday, they say, ‘Take Monday instead.’ It’s great,” he said.

“Tumhe kabhi kisi ne bola hoga na ki Australians laid-back hain aur tumhe reason na pata ho, ye reason hai,” Khaneja added.

He concluded the video by saying, “There’s one thing the rest of the world can learn from this - the fun shouldn’t stop.”

Sharing the video on Instagram, Khaneja wrote in the caption, “Public holidays in Australia vs India. As if there were not enough reasons to love this country.”

(Also Read: Indian man breaks down cost of living in Australia, reveals ₹2.6 lakh monthly spend)

Social media reactions

The post prompted several users to weigh in. “So true,” one user commented.

“Unfortunately, NSW doesn’t have these kinds of public holidays,” another wrote.

A third user disagreed with Khaneja’s comparison, writing, “Hey man, stop spreading false information. India has more holiday and chill life compare to Australia.”

One user asked Khaneja, “Overall how many PH in a year??” To this, he replied, “Not many. 13.”

  • Bhavya Sukheja
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Bhavya Sukheja

    Bhavya Sukheja is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 6 years of experience in digital journalism. She specialises in covering stories that reflect everyday human experiences, with a focus on viral videos, social media trends, and human-interest features that inform readers while sparking meaningful conversations. She loves chasing page views and finding stories that tug at readers’ heartstrings. Before joining Hindustan Times, Bhavya worked with Republic World and NDTV, where she developed her skills in real-time reporting and digital storytelling. Working in fast-paced newsrooms helped her build an editorial approach that prioritises accuracy, clarity, and audience engagement. Bhavya is driven by a curiosity about how people communicate and connect in the digital age. She is particularly interested in stories that highlight cultural shifts, shared emotions, and the evolving nature of online conversations. When she is not tracking trends, Bhavya enjoys unplugging and spending time with her cat.Read More

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