The Karnataka government has issued orders to officials in Bengaluru and Mysore to stop the Tomatino festival scheduled to be held in the cities on Sunday.
State's Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda said 'it is not proper to treat the hard work of farmers in this manner', referring to tomatoes that revellers throw at each other during the festival.
With its origins in Spain, the La Tomatino festival faces bans even in its home country but is celebrated anyway during the month of August.
The festival was made popular in India after the movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dubara, which had elaborate sequences shot with Tomatino in the background.
The Bengaluru edition of the festival has been under fire for a while now with residents objecting to the 'wastage of food in a country like India'.
A message that's circulating on Facebook reads: "pls my dear Bangaloreans hear ...Please boycott the 'La Tomatina' festival to be held in Palace grounds on the 18th of September. Spain can afford it...India can't. Its a Royal waste of food !!.. Which could actually be used to feed those 5.6 million children who die of malnutrition every year. Like ..if u agree and help cancel this depiction of fake westernisation.. Go on.. Put it up as your status if u have social responsibility.."