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Rajasthan’s education department has warned schools not to force students to dress like Santa Claus and said strict action will be taken against violations.
The Rajasthan education department has warned schools against forcing students to wear Santa Claus-like costumes. (Symbolic Image/Getty)
The education department in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district has issued a warning to schools against forcing students to dress like Santa Claus. The department has clearly said that if any school is found violating the instructions, strict action will be taken. “If any school is found putting pressure on students, action will be taken as per rules,” the official order said.
The directive was issued on December 22 by Additional District Education Officer Ashok Wadhwa, who cautioned schools against putting unnecessary pressure on students or their parents to participate in such activities. The order states that cultural programs can be organised, but no student should be forced to participate. If students are forced or parents are pressurized, the responsibility will lie with the concerned school management.
The order was given following a representation submitted by the India-Tibet Cooperation Forum to the district education authorities. The organization alleged that in recent years some schools in the district have been forcing children to dress like Santa Claus, causing resentment among parents.
Wadhwa said that since December 25 is celebrated as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’, schools should maintain a balance while planning their programs and ensure that no particular festival is imposed on students. He said that Sri Ganganagar is a Hindu-Sikh majority area and no tradition should be imposed on students or families against their wishes.
However, Veer Bal Diwas (meaning the day of brave children) is officially celebrated on 26 December. The day commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of the younger sons of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. It symbolizes the events at Anandpur Sahib Fort, where Guru Gobind Singh was forced to leave with his family and followers after the Mughal army surrounded the fort.
A similar directive has reportedly also been issued in Uttar Pradesh, where schools have been directed not to declare a holiday on Christmas this year. According to local reports, it was released by the Basic Education Department to mark the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, marking his birth centenary.
Also read: RRB Group D 2025 CBT Revised Schedule Released; Check New Exam Dates
Meanwhile, the Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan, Ajmer (RBSE) has announced winter holidays for schools across the state. According to the notification, all schools in Rajasthan will remain closed from December 25 to January 5.
The decision was taken due to increasing cold across the state and rapid drop in night temperatures. The department said cold weather is likely to continue, with light to dense fog likely over northern districts in the morning.
December 24, 2025, 1:54 pm IST
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