“Santa Claus in Navratri? Axis Bank’s Big Insult to Hindu Festivals”, The Jaipur Dialogues, September 24, 2025:
“Private lender Axis Bank has found itself in the eye of a storm after releasing its latest social-media reel. The campaign, launched during Navratri, shows a young girl playing dandiya — only to spot Santa Claus in the middle of the festivities. The message was supposed to convey: Axis Bank’s offers will run from Navratri through Diwali and end with Christmas.
Is Axis Bank CMO Kerala Ricebag Anoop Manohar declaring #Navratri is also not a Hindu festival like they did with Onam?? pic.twitter.com/tzB9DNOT6n — Eminent Intellectual (@total_woke_) September 22, 2025
But for millions of Hindus, the execution was a slap in the face. The campaign, which initially featured the tagline “Dil Se Open Celebrations,” quickly changed to “Dimaag Se Band Reels” after its release. Navratri is not just another Hindu holiday. It is a nine-day celebration of the feminine divine — Shakti, Durga, Kali, and all forms of primal feminine energy. Inserting Santa Claus into this sacred tradition is not “inclusive.” It is appropriation and trivialisation…..”
Read the full article at TheJaipurDialogues.com
