Archive · 24 Dec 2025
Rajasthan Bans Forcing Santa Costumes on Students
In a district in Rajasthan, India, the education officer said schools can't make kids dress up as Santa Claus for Christmas.
The officer said this because there are very few Christian families in the area, and it's not fair to pressure kids to do this.
The officer warned that if any school does this, they might get in trouble.
This happened after some people were detained for religious activities near the border.
A group called Bharat-Tibet Sahyog Manch complained about schools making kids dress up as Santa, while another group, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, said there have been attacks on Christians and asked for protection during Christmas.
Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar district has banned schools from forcing students to dress as Santa Claus for Christmas.
The order was issued by Additional District Education Officer Ashok Wadhwa on December 22.
The ban is due to the district being predominantly Hindu and Sikh, with few Christian families.
Schools have been warned of strict legal action if they force students to dress as Santa Claus.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India condemned the rise in alleged attacks on Christians and urged protection for Christian communities during Christmas.
- Who
- Sri Ganganagar Additional District Education Officer Ashok Wadhwa
- What
- Issued an order banning schools from forcing students to dress as Santa Claus
- When
- December 22
- Where
- Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India
- Why
- To prevent pressure on children in a non-Christian dominated area
Bharat-Tibet Sahyog Manch
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI)
Forcing Students to Dress as Santa
Bharat-Tibet Sahyog Manch
Schools should not compel children to dress up as Santa Claus, especially in a predominantly Hindu-Sikh area.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI)
Condemns the rise in alleged attacks on Christians and urges protection for Christian communities during Christmas.
- Location
- Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India
- Issued By
- Sri Ganganagar Additional District Education Officer Ashok Wadhwa
- Date of Order
- December 22
- Reason for Ban
- Pressure on children in a non-Christian dominated area
- Action Threatened
- Strict legal action in case of complaints
- Alternative Celebration
- Veer Bal Diwas (December 26)
- Organisation Representation
- Bharat-Tibet Sahyog Manch
Sources
Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar bars schools from ‘forcing’ Santa Claus costumes on students, warns of ‘strict legal action’
‘Strict action…’: Education dept in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar warns schools against forcing students to dress as Santa
Education dept in Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar warns schools against forcing students to dress as Santa
No Christmas holiday for UP schools, students to observe Vajpayee birth centenary instead: Report
