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Employees reject soan papdi as Diwali gift, throw boxes at company’s gate in viral video: ‘Not professional’

A video showing employees of a company tossing boxes of soan papdi quickly went viral on X, drawing widespread attention and sparking debates online.

According to a post on X, a factory decided to give its employees boxes of soan papdi instead of a cash bonus for Diwali

Diwali is traditionally a time of gifting, whether between family members, friends, or colleagues. Many companies also join the celebrations by giving gifts to their employees. One of the most iconic Diwali treats in India is soan papdi, a sweet made of gram flour that has long been associated with the festival. However, one such incident involving the gifting of soan papdis took an unexpected turn.

According to a post on X, a factory decided to give its employees boxes of soan papdi instead of a cash bonus for Diwali. The workers, clearly unhappy with the gesture, responded by leaving all the boxes at the factory gate. A video capturing the employees tossing the packets of soan papdi quickly went viral on X, drawing widespread attention and sparking debates online.

Watch the video:

एक फ़ैक्ट्री ने इस बार दिवाली पर वर्करों को बोनस की जगह सोहनपपड़ी का डिब्बा दे दिया। विरोधस्वरूप -वर्करों ने सारे डिब्बे फ़ैक्ट्री के गेट पर ही छोड़ दिए। pic.twitter.com/sKKggeoT28

— 𝙼𝚛 𝚃𝚢𝚊𝚐𝚒 (@mktyaggi) October 21, 2025

Reactions on social media were mixed. Some supported the workers’ frustration, while others criticised the act as wasteful and disrespectful. One user wrote, “Very bad… Diwali or any gift is not an obligation. Our MNC doesn’t give any gift…neither on Diwali or on any other occasion, due to strict no gift policy. As long as a company is fair on wages and other practices, this is not professional.”

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Another comment read, “Rude, ill-mannered and uncultured if that’s what happened. Workers behaving like this don’t deserve any gift at all.” Some users also discussed the cultural and culinary value of soan papdi, with one pointing out, “Soan papdi is a victim of meme culture. A lot of bullshit vegetable oil-laden maida laddus (Rs 200-300/kg) are cheaper than a good soan papdi (Rs 300-Rs 450/kg). In low budget, soan papdi is the best sweet in terms of taste and clean ingredients.”

Meanwhile, others emphasised respect for food, noting, “Whatever is the reason for rage, never disrespect food. We work all our life primarily for food, so don’t disrespect that. Give it to hungry children on the street instead of throwing tantrums like this.”

The incident, while humorous to some, has reignited conversations about workplace ethics, employee expectations, and the enduring place of soan papdi in India’s Diwali celebrations.