Varanasi 'horror' restaurant staff dressed as ghosts leave boy screaming in tears
Dining experience or fright night? Varanasi's horror-themed restaurant has gone viral for making a child cry.
A horror-themed restaurant in Varanasi is facing sharp criticism online after a viral video showed its scare tactics leaving a child visibly terrified, raising questions about where entertainment ends and irresponsibility begins.
Kankal Horror Restaurant, built around a ghost-and-skeleton theme, markets itself as an immersive “haunted” dining experience. Inside, the space is deliberately unsettling; dim lighting, flickering neon hues, artificial fog, and walls lined with life-sized skeletons. Tables are styled with macabre props, including “bloody” handprints and bone-inspired cutlery, all meant to heighten the eerie atmosphere.
But what was designed as a novelty experience has drawn backlash for how it is being executed.
In a video shared by the eatery’s own Instagram handle, a staff member dressed in a ghostly costume approaches diners and suddenly tries to scare them. While some reactions are playful, one moment in particular has triggered outrage. A little boy is seen panicking as the staff member moves closer, eventually breaking down in tears and crying out, “please papa nahi.”
Here’s the clip:
The clip has since gone viral, but not for the reasons the restaurant may have hoped. Many viewers have criticised the establishment for prioritising shock value over basic sensitivity. Several pointed out that while themed experiences can be entertaining for willing adults, deliberately scaring children to the point of tears crosses a line.
Others questioned the ethics of using fear as a gimmick, especially when it involves unsuspecting diners. Comments flooded in calling the act “insensitive” and “not funny,” with many urging the restaurant to reconsider how it engages with customers.
A horror-themed restaurant in Varanasi is facing sharp criticism online after a viral video showed its scare tactics leaving a child visibly terrified, raising questions about where entertainment ends and irresponsibility begins.
Kankal Horror Restaurant, built around a ghost-and-skeleton theme, markets itself as an immersive “haunted” dining experience. Inside, the space is deliberately unsettling; dim lighting, flickering neon hues, artificial fog, and walls lined with life-sized skeletons. Tables are styled with macabre props, including “bloody” handprints and bone-inspired cutlery, all meant to heighten the eerie atmosphere.
But what was designed as a novelty experience has drawn backlash for how it is being executed.
In a video shared by the eatery’s own Instagram handle, a staff member dressed in a ghostly costume approaches diners and suddenly tries to scare them. While some reactions are playful, one moment in particular has triggered outrage. A little boy is seen panicking as the staff member moves closer, eventually breaking down in tears and crying out, “please papa nahi.”
Here’s the clip:
The clip has since gone viral, but not for the reasons the restaurant may have hoped. Many viewers have criticised the establishment for prioritising shock value over basic sensitivity. Several pointed out that while themed experiences can be entertaining for willing adults, deliberately scaring children to the point of tears crosses a line.
Others questioned the ethics of using fear as a gimmick, especially when it involves unsuspecting diners. Comments flooded in calling the act “insensitive” and “not funny,” with many urging the restaurant to reconsider how it engages with customers.
