The education department in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district has issued a stern warning to private schools against forcing students to dress up as Santa Claus for Christmas celebrations. The department has made it clear that strict action will be taken against any school found coercing students or pressuring parents to participate in such activities.
The directive, issued on December 22 by Additional District Education Officer (ADEO) Ashok Wadhwa, underlines that while schools are free to organise cultural programmes, participation must be entirely voluntary. Any form of compulsion, whether directed at students or their parents, will be treated as a violation of education rules, with the school management held directly responsible.
“Action will be taken under rules if any school is found forcing students,” the official order states, cautioning institutions against creating unnecessary pressure in the name of celebrations.
The order follows a formal representation submitted by the Bharat-Tibet Sahyog Manch, which alleged that several private schools in the district had, in recent years, compelled children to dress as Santa Claus, sparking resentment among parents from non-Christian backgrounds.
The organisation argued that such practices disregard the cultural and religious composition of the region and amount to the imposition of a particular tradition in a predominantly Hindu-Sikh district.
ADEO Wadhwa emphasised the need for balance in school programmes, especially around December 25, which the Centre has declared as Veer Bal Diwas. He said schools must ensure that no single festival or tradition is imposed on students, particularly in areas with diverse religious demographics.
“Since Sri Ganganagar is a Hindu-Sikh majority area, no tradition should be forced upon students or families against their wishes,” Wadhwa said, adding that educational spaces must remain inclusive and sensitive.
However, it is important to note that Veer Bal Divas is officially observed on December 26, not December 25. The day commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, the younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh, who were martyred by the Mughal rulers. The observance honours their courage following the siege of Anandpur Sahib Fort, when Guru Gobind Singh and his followers were forced to evacuate.
The Rajasthan directive comes amid reports of similar instructions in Uttar Pradesh, where schools have reportedly been asked not to declare a Christmas holiday this year. According to local reports, the Basic Education Department issued the order to mark the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, coinciding with the closing phase of his birth centenary year.
Meanwhile, the Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan (RBSE), Ajmer, has announced winter vacations from December 25 to January 5 for schools across the state. The decision was taken in view of intensifying cold conditions, with night temperatures plunging and shallow to dense fog predicted in northern districts during early morning hours. The education department said the cold wave is likely to persist, making it unsafe for regular school operations.
