A Sweet Rejection: The Soan Papdi Protest

New Delhi, October 22, 2025: A recent video, which quickly went viral across social media platforms, was shared widely, capturing a moment of intense dissatisfaction among factory workers in Gannaur, Sonipat, Haryana. This footage showed a large number of employees gathered at their company gate, and boxes of the popular Indian sweet, Soan Papdi, were seen being thrown onto the ground in an act of protest. The boxes had been presented to the workers as a Diwali gift, but they were publicly rejected by those on the receiving end.

The Substitution of Expected Rewards

The controversy was reportedly ignited because the traditional festive monetary bonus was replaced by the boxes of sweets. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is widely known as a time for companies to show appreciation to their staff, with cash bonuses or significant gifts often expected.

It was felt by many of the workers that the modest box of Soan Papdi was a disrespectful and insufficient gesture, particularly when rising costs and delayed wages were allegedly being endured. The act of discarding the gifts was thus seen as a powerful, collective expression of disappointment and frustration directed at the management.

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The Sweet’s Unfair Reputation Debated

The flaky, golden-hued sweet, Soan Papdi, has long been a staple of Indian festive gifting, prized for its shelf-life and distinctive texture. However, over the years, it has also become a subject of numerous jokes and memes online, where it is often portrayed as the most uninspired and frequently re-gifted Diwali sweet. This incident immediately sparked a lively debate on the internet.

On one side, the workers’ frustration was understood by many, with comments suggesting the protest was less about the sweet itself and more about the perceived lack of respect from the company. The expectation of fair recognition for a year’s labour was clearly conveyed.

Public Opinion Divided on the Act of Protest

Conversely, the act of throwing away the food was heavily criticised by a significant number of social media users. Strong opinions were expressed that food should be respected and that the boxes should have been refused politely or, better yet, donated to those in need.

The taste of the sweet itself was also defended by many netizens, with comments frequently made that “it’s actually tasty.” The viral moment, therefore, became a powerful symbol, not only of workplace grievance but also of the ongoing cultural conversation surrounding the value and meaning of corporate festive gifting in modern India.

A Widespread Conversation Was Generated

Ultimately, the video served to amplify a broader issue about employee dignity and recognition in the corporate sector. The management’s gesture, which was later claimed by supervisors to be an act of festive goodwill, was clearly misinterpreted and rejected, demonstrating a disconnect between employer actions and employee expectations during the festive season. A national conversation about labour expectations and the sincerity of corporate appreciation was thus generated by the rejected sweet boxes.