Haryana factory employees protest by throwing Soan Papdi gifts outside company gate. Internet divided

Soan Papdi remains one of the most widely consumed sweets in India during the festive season.

A video from Sonipat, Haryana, captured in the industrial belt of Ganaur, circulated widely on social media this week after showing factory workers throwing their Diwali gifts—boxes of Soan Papdi—outside the company premises. The incident prompted a flurry of reactions online, dividing opinion between those who condemned the act as wasteful and others who viewed it as a justified expression of employee dissatisfaction.

In the footage, a group of workers were seen gathered near the factory gate, each carrying identical sweet boxes reportedly given by the employer as festive gifts. Moments later, several of them began discarding the unopened boxes onto the ground, while others encouraged colleagues exiting the premises to do the same. Piles of Soan Papdi boxes were soon visible at the entrance, showing the workers’ discontent.

According to Hindustan Times, the report aired on a local news channel and it was revealed that the employees had been assured of a Diwali bonus earlier. However, instead of receiving the promised monetary incentive or a practical gift, they were handed boxes of Soan Papdi shortly before the festival. Feeling misled and undervalued, the workers allegedly staged this spontaneous protest to express their disappointment.

Diwali Kalesh

A company gave its employees the famous most hated alleged Mithai called Soan Papdi

The employees threw the Soan Papdi boxes at the gate of the company.

Soan Papdi deserves this insult :)

What is your opinion on alleged mithai called soan papdi? pic.twitter.com/HSRPDC322r

— Woke Eminent (@WokePandemic) October 21, 2025

The video has since drawn extensive engagement online. Many social media users criticised the act as disrespectful towards food and the festival’s spirit. One user commented, “A gift of any kind is an act of goodwill. Throwing away food goes against the essence of Diwali. They could have distributed it to people in need instead. Everyone expects something expensive but forgets that true warmth doesn’t come from things. With such attitudes, prosperity won’t follow.”

Another user expressed discomfort with the protest, writing, “I don’t know why this doesn’t sit right with me. Maybe the company couldn’t afford something costlier, but food deserves respect. Some firms don’t even give their staff anything on Diwali.”

Others, however, defended the workers’ actions, arguing that the issue was not the sweet itself but the lack of acknowledgment for their work. One person observed, “They’re not upset about Soan Papdi. They’re angry because they didn’t get the bonus they were expecting.” Another commented, “The company deserved this kind of response; as an employee, I understand their frustration.” A user added, “Probably an HR department idea.”

While some dismissed the act as impulsive, several commenters took a broader view of workplace culture. One person wrote, “Ungrateful employees...I’ve been through a similar time when my business couldn’t afford more. A bonus isn’t a right—it’s the company’s discretion. Salary, promotions, allowances—they’re all part of employment. Why show such disrespect? A sweet is still a sweet.”

Soan Papdi remains one of the most widely consumed sweets in India during the festive season. Yet, in recent years, it has become a frequent subject of online humour, often portrayed as a token gift that is repeatedly re-gifted or received without enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Moneycontrol.com could not verify the authenticity of the viral video.