Vandalism, disruptions mar Christmas celebrations across states; Tharoor calls it ‘an assault on all of us’

• Vandalism and protests disrupt Christmas celebrations in several Indian states.
• Police investigate incidents in Assam, Chhattisgarh, MP, Rajasthan, Delhi
• Reactions persist over allegations of forced conversions.

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A series of incidents linked to Christmas celebrations came to light from different parts of India. From vandalism of decorations to disruptions at churches and public places, police in several states have started investigations, while political and community reactions continue.

A group of Bajrang Dal activists allegedly entered a diocese-run school in Nalbari town of Assam and destroyed Christmas decorations on Wednesday. The school, St Mary’s English School at Panigaon, later filed a complaint with the police regarding the incident.

The same group also damaged Christmas ornaments that were being sold at a local shop in Nalbari earlier that day. Nalbari Senior Superintendent of Police Bibekananda Das confirmed that the police had received a complaint from the school authorities and that the matter was being looked into.

Violence at Raipur mall

On the same day, a violent incident surfaced in Chhattisgarh’s capital, Raipur. A large group of people armed with sticks allegedly entered Magneto Mall and vandalised Christmas decorations and installations inside the shopping complex.

The incident took place during a day-long “Chhattisgarh bandh” called by the Sarva Hindu Samaj to protest against alleged religious conversions. A mall employee said that around 80 to 90 people barged into the mall and went on a rampage, creating fear among staff and shoppers.

Police said masked men were involved and that some staff members were allegedly threatened and questioned about their religion. Raipur Senior Superintendent of Police Lal Umed Singh said an FIR has been registered, but no arrests had been made so far. “Our investigation is on, and we are trying to identify the accused,” he said.

Church-related incidents in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh also witnessed multiple incidents. In Jabalpur, BJP district vice-president Anju Bhargava was accused of manhandling a visually impaired woman who had entered church premises in the Katanga area on Saturday. Bhargava reportedly claimed that children were being converted to Christianity.

Although the police have not registered an FIR in this case, the BJP’s Jabalpur unit issued a show-cause notice to Bhargava. City party president Rakesh Sonkar said she has been given seven days to explain her conduct.

The visually impaired woman said she had only gone to celebrate Christmas and had not changed her religion. “Just because I come to celebrate Christmas doesn’t mean I have converted,” she said.

In another incident in Jabalpur, a prayer service at a church in the Madhotal area was disrupted. Members of the Hindu Seva Parishad claimed they received information about a large gathering and suspected conversion activities.

However, people attending the service said 15 to 20 men entered the church during prayers, raised religious slogans, and caused panic. Police detained several youths and said they are verifying statements from both sides.

Rajasthan order on Santa Claus celebrations in schools

In Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district, the education department issued an order asking schools not to force children to dress up as Santa Claus during Christmas celebrations. The December 22 order followed a letter from the Bharat Tibet Sahayog Manch.

The letter stated that the district is largely dominated by Hindu and Sikh families and that Christian families are almost non-existent. The order said that putting unnecessary pressure on children to participate in such programmes is not justified and warned of action if complaints are received.

Verbal clash in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar

In Delhi, a video surfaced showing women wearing Santa Claus caps being heckled in Lajpat Nagar. The men in the video were allegedly Bajrang Dal members who accused the women of religious conversion and asked them to leave.

Police said no complaint was filed. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Hemant Tiwari described the incident as a minor verbal disagreement that was resolved on the spot. He added that initial checks showed the matter was personal and did not escalate further.

While the festive spirit remained alive in Kerala, it’s dismaying that Christmas 2025 has been marked by an unprecedented level of anxiety, driven by specific local incidents and a rising national trend of intolerance.

Kerala: Attack on  Christmas carol 

In Kerala, widespread protests erupted following an alleged attack on a children’s Christmas carol by an RSS-BJP worker at Kalandithara in Palakkad district on December 21. Congress's Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor said that in the shadow of these events and the warnings from church fathers, the message for society must be one of alertness and unity.

1/2 While the festive spirit remained alive in Kerala, it’s dismaying that Christmas 2025 has been marked by an unprecedented level of anxiety, driven by specific local incidents and a rising national trend of intolerance.

A Christmas carol group in Pudussery, Palakkad was… https://t.co/4uF1EBd6G6 — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 25, 2025

"To my mind, this solidarity is fundamental, and we're going through a time, and sadly, there are attacks on Christians in different places of the country. Even in Kerala, there was an attack on a carol singing group in Palakkad, which is truly shocking," Tharoor wrote in a long post on X.

"When our traditions are attacked, it is not only Christians who are attacked, it is all of us. Every Indian is assaulted. Our constitutional guarantee of freedom of worship, freedom of belief is being attacked, and we must all stand in solidarity with our Christian brothers," he said.

"When a carol group is attacked, it is not just a Christian issue—it is an assault on all of us & the shared culture of Kerala. Peace cannot survive if the majority remains silent spectators to the bullying of a minority," he said.