Men Harass Santa Hat Vendors in Odisha, Claim State Is ‘Hindu Rashtra’; Video Sparks Outrage

Odisha, Dec 23, 2024: Odisha witnessed a controversy ahead of Christmas after a group of men allegedly harassed and intimidated poor roadside vendors selling Santa hats, claiming that the state was a “Hindu rashtra” where “Christian items” should not be sold. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, triggering widespread condemnation.

In the video, the men are seen questioning the vendors about their religious identity and place of origin. When the sellers said they were Hindus and were selling Santa hats only to earn a livelihood, one of the men is heard saying, “This is Hindu rashtra. You can’t sell Christian items here. Being Hindus, how can you do this? Wrap up quickly and go away from here. If you have to sell anything, sell Lord Jagannath’s merchandise. Here, only Lord Jagannath can rule.”

Some of the vendors told the men that they had come from Rajasthan to sell their wares. The men responded that they had no objection to outsiders doing business in Odisha as long as they were not selling what they described as Christian artefacts.

The vendors repeatedly explained that they were poor and were selling Santa hats solely to support themselves and their families. Despite this, they were asked to stop selling the items and leave the area.

The video, widely shared on X and other platforms, drew sharp reactions from social media users. Many linked the incident to what they described as a rise in right-wing nationalism and jingoism following the 2024 election of a BJP government in Odisha.

“This is BJP’s idea of New India,” one user commented, criticising the harassment of people trying to earn a living. Another user wrote, “When you expect foreigners to celebrate Hindu festivals, why can’t you allow your own people to celebrate their festivals? That boy is not selling those things to show off his money, but to feed himself and his family.”

Others questioned why action was directed at poor street vendors instead of commercial establishments. “If he is that sure of his position, he should go to shopping malls and retail stores and try to stop them from selling Christmas paraphernalia,” a user said. Another comment described the incident as “harassing innocent people trying to make a living,” blaming what the user called the “sanghi/BJP ecosystem.”

There has been no official response from the state authorities at the time of reporting, even as the video continues to circulate and draw criticism over religious intolerance and the targeting of marginalised vendors during the festive season.

By Fr. Suresh Mathew