Indian-American cancer survivor in Texas asked to remove Lord Ganesh idol by realtor; video viral
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An Indian-origin homeowner in Texas on June 22 reported that he was advised by a realtor to take down a statue of Lord Ganesha from his home because visible Hindu religious symbols might put off prospective buyers. The episode has surfaced at a time of heightened debate around immigration and shifting demographics in parts of the United States, as President Donald Trump's more stringent visa policies continue to reshape the landscape.
The wider Bloomberg report underlined that the Texas housing market has been broadly unsettled by a migration slowdown tied to visa restrictions, leaving it in an uncertain state that offers little clear advantage to either buyers or sellers. According to report, citing the owner, the home had still not received an offer after three months.
The incident was brought to light in a Bloomberg video exploring how tightened immigration regulations and a deceleration in visa approvals have rippled through the Texas housing market, with the Dallas-Fort Worth region particularly affected. Over the last decade, the area has become a magnet for companies relocating from California, drawing thousands of South Asian professionals in their wake, many of whom are employed on H-1B visas.
The report also sheds light on a sense of unease among certain residents regarding the rapid expansion of the Indian community, with some critics going so far as to characterise it as an "Indian invasion." One of those featured in the piece was Ravi Vavilala, who uprooted his family from Charlotte, North Carolina, and moved to Celina, Texas, in 2023, a city that has since emerged as one of the state's fastest-growing destinations for Indian families.
Shortly after settling in, Ravi received a stage-four cancer diagnosis and subsequently lost his job. Overwhelmed by these compounding hardships, the family decided to list their home for sale, but found buyers difficult to come by. Ravi recounted how one prospective buyer toured the house only to leave within minutes. When he followed up with his realtor, he was allegedly informed that some visitors had been put off by the religious décor and personal items on display.
📹🇺🇸🏡 Indian-American Cancer Survivor Alleges Realtor Asked Him To Remove Hindu Idols pic.twitter.com/cFaLeLXbmT
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) June 22, 2026
"We realised we had to make the house look more neutral so that it would appeal to a wider range of buyers," Ravi told Bloomberg. Speaking further, he recalled being told: “We felt a little uncomfortable because they were saying that there is so much religious stuff and personal stuff still there."
Acting on this feedback, the family removed the Ganesha idol and placed it in a nearby storage unit. Despite stripping the home of much of its personal character, Ravi said they had yet to receive a single offer after three months on the market and may ultimately be forced to sell at a loss.
The wider Bloomberg report underlined that the Texas housing market has been broadly unsettled by a migration slowdown tied to visa restrictions, leaving it in an uncertain state that offers little clear advantage to either buyers or sellers. According to report, citing the owner, the home had still not received an offer after three months.