In Virar, Maharashtra, a private school with reportedly no Christian students dressed over 200 children in Santa Claus outfits for Christmas celebrations on December 23, 2025, sparking protests from Bajrang Dal activists who arrived demanding the recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa.
School staff and pupils complied, reciting the prayer together in a peaceful resolution, with no arrests or formal complaints filed. Local police monitored the situation without intervention; Bajrang Dal objected to what they saw as promotion of another faith, while the principal defended it as inclusive festive fun.
This incident aligns with broader warnings from Hindu groups across India against similar school events, but no further escalations reported as of December 24, 2025.
Santa Suits Spark Swift Protest
The episode unfolded at a modest private school in Virar West, a bustling suburb of Mumbai, during a pre-Christmas assembly attended by students from Class 1 to 10. Around 200 children, mostly from Hindu families, donned vibrant red Santa Claus costumes complete with fluffy white beards, jingling bells, and pointed hats for what the school intended as light-hearted cultural play.
Videos of the event quickly spread on social media, alerting Bajrang Dal members who rushed to the scene, raising slogans and insisting on a recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa to “reaffirm Hindu values.”
Eyewitnesses recounted the initial chaos: children huddled in confusion, teachers attempting to calm the crowd, and activists chanting outside the gates. School principal Rekha Sharma later clarified, “Our aim was pure joy to let kids experience the spirit of festivity across cultures, without any religious agenda.
We have no Christian students; it was just innocent dress-up.” Within minutes, the school obliged, and the entire assembly, including staff, recited the Hanuman Chalisa in unison, turning a potential flashpoint into an unexpected moment of collective chanting that echoed through the schoolyard.
Wider Context of Festive Frictions
This Virar standoff is part of a pattern of tensions over religious observances in educational settings, particularly as Christmas approaches amid heightened sensitivities. Similar warnings have emanated from groups like the Hindu Utsav Samiti in Madhya Pradesh, where activists in Bhopal publicly cautioned missionary schools against making students wear Santa outfits or participate in carol singing, threatening inspections and legal complaints if parents report coercion.
In Maharashtra, past incidents such as protests against Christmas events in Nagpur schools last year have seen comparable interventions, often amplified by viral videos. Bajrang Dal leader Mahesh Shinde defended the Virar action, stating, “We cannot allow the dilution of our traditions in institutions serving Hindu children; such acts feel like forced conversions.”
Local police officer Vijay Patil provided reassurance, noting, “Our team was present to maintain order. Both parties agreed to part ways peacefully no FIR was necessary, and the school resumed normal activities.”
The institution, run by a local trust, routinely celebrates Hindu festivals like Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi without controversy, underscoring how seemingly innocuous gestures can ignite debates in polarised times. Parents, reached later, expressed mixed views: some appreciated the quick de-escalation, others questioned the need for external interference in school matters.
Roots in Recurring Communal Sparks
The backdrop reveals deeper societal undercurrents, where India’s diverse festivals often intersect with identity politics. Over recent years, Maharashtra has witnessed sporadic clashes over public celebrations from objections to “Love Jihad” narratives during Valentine’s Day to disputes over loudspeakers during Azaan or temple bells.
Schools, as microcosms of society, become battlegrounds when cultural activities blur into perceived proselytisation. In this case, the absence of Christian students amplified critics’ concerns, framing the Santa event as an imposition rather than inclusivity.
No central government or state education department statements have emerged specifically on Virar, but broader advisories from Maharashtra’s school education minister earlier this year urged “balanced” observances respecting local sentiments.
Community leaders from Virar have since called for restraint, with one resident telling local media, “Children should learn harmony, not hate let’s not spoil their innocence.”
As of now, the school plans no changes to its calendar, focusing instead on upcoming year-end events, while social media buzz continues with hashtags like #SantaInSchool and #ProtectHinduTraditions trending locally.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Logical Indian stands firmly for India’s mosaic of cultures, where schools serve as cradles of empathy, not arenas for confrontation.
This Virar incident, while resolved without violence, exposes fragile fault lines that demand proactive dialogue over reactive protests fostering kindness, mutual respect, and shared celebrations that honour all traditions.
True harmony blooms when communities choose understanding over outrage, teaching the next generation coexistence as a lived reality rather than a slogan.
