Soan Papdi Rage! Employees Throw Gift Boxes at Office Gate After Diwali Disappointment
Factory workers in Haryana staged an unusual protest after they were handed soan papdi as a Diwali gift by their employer
Factory workers in Haryana staged an unusual protest after they were handed soan papdi as a Diwali gift by their employer. Angry factory workers were seen throwing unopened soan papdi boxes at the factory’s gate in an undated video circulating online.
The video was purportedly filmed at a factory in Sonipat, Haryana. In the clip, several employees were seen throwing away soan papdi boxes outside the factory’s gate. HT.com has not independently verified the authenticity of the video.
The clip was apparently aired on a news channel, where the anchor explained that workers had been promised a bonus on Diwali. However, a few days before the festival of lights, they were handed boxes of soan papdi instead of a cash bonus or even gift vouchers.
Upset by their employers not keeping their word, the factory workers in Ganaur, Sonipat threw the soan papdi boxes to register their protest.
The video sparked a debate on social media. While some criticised the factory for not keeping its promise, others were of the opinion that workers should not have thrown the sweet on the ground.
“Ungrateful employees……. I have faced a similar situation when my business was down and couldn’t afford,” wrote one viewer on X. “Bonus is a choice of company’s.. not a mandatory rule to be followed. Employees get a salary, promotions and allowances sometimes.. why such disrespect.. a sweet is a sweet.. “ another questioned.
Soan papdi is one of the most widely-gifted sweets in India, especially during the festive season. However, it does have an unfair reputation as a less-than-desirable gifting option.
The flaky Indian dessert has become associated with lazy or last-minute gifting. However, in the last few years, the onslaught of soan papdi memes has contributed to its perceived undesirability.
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)
Diwali, the festival of lights, is known for its joy, generosity, and the spirit of giving. However, this year, one company’s choice of festive gift turned what should have been a cheerful occasion into an unexpected scene of frustration and humor. A video that has now gone viral on social media shows a group of employees angrily tossing Soan Papdi boxes — a traditional Indian sweet — at their company’s main gate, expressing their disappointment over receiving what many call “the most over-gifted sweet of Diwali.”
In the now-viral clip, several employees can be seen standing outside their office premises, holding identical yellow Soan Papdi boxes wrapped in festive packaging. Moments later, they begin hurling the boxes toward the company gate, shouting in mock anger and laughter. Some even sarcastically wish each other “Happy Diwali” while tossing the sweets away.
Within hours of being shared online, the video received over 1.2 million views, thousands of shares, and sparked a wave of memes and jokes. Netizens couldn’t resist poking fun at the situation, calling it “the most relatable Diwali moment ever.”
One user wrote, “Every Indian household has at least one unopened Soan Papdi box. These employees just returned it to the source!” Another commented, “Soan Papdi is not a gift, it’s a recycling tradition passed from one Diwali to the next.”
Over the years, Soan Papdi has earned a unique reputation during Diwali — as the sweet that keeps circulating endlessly. Often seen as the go-to corporate gift, it has become a running joke on social media that no one ever eats it — they just pass it on to someone else.
This lighthearted rebellion by the employees seems to have struck a chord with millions who have been on either side of the Soan Papdi gifting tradition. “It’s not just about the sweet, it’s about the thought,” said one commenter, suggesting that the employees’ reaction reflected disappointment at the company’s lack of creativity and effort in celebrating the festival.
Though the identity of the company remains undisclosed, reports suggest it could be a mid-sized IT or marketing firm based in northern India. The management has reportedly taken note of the viral clip but has chosen not to issue an official statement. Some users online have suggested that the incident may have been a staged prank by the employees themselves, meant more as satire than protest.
If that’s the case, the prank has certainly paid off — the video continues to circulate on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Reddit, with viewers calling it “the most Diwali thing ever.”
The reaction reveals more than just frustration over sweets — it highlights how employees across industries crave genuine appreciation and thoughtfulness from their employers, especially during festive seasons. Many offices distribute gifts like chocolates, dry fruits, or vouchers to acknowledge their teams’ efforts. But when the gesture feels repetitive or impersonal, it can backfire — even in jest.
HR experts online have also chimed in, noting that while Soan Papdi itself is a beloved sweet, the gifting culture around it has become symbolic of laziness and lack of effort. “A personalized note or even a small token of appreciation means more than a generic box of sweets,” wrote one HR consultant on LinkedIn.
As expected, social media turned the moment into meme gold.
“Breaking News: Soan Papdi boxes form protest pile outside company gate.”
“These employees just did what every Indian secretly wants to do.”
Many joked that this could mark the end of Soan Papdi’s Diwali dominance, while others insisted that the sweet’s reign is far from over.
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