Rahul Gandhi’s Festive Greetings Stir Controversy: A Calculated Omission of Hindu Deities?

As Bharat celebrated Vijayadashami on October 2, a festive occasion marking the triumph of good over evil, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s latest social media post has ignited a fresh wave of scrutiny. The opposition figure extended greetings to the nation with an image featuring a bow and arrow—symbols associated with Lord Rama—but conspicuously absent were any depictions of the deity himself or Goddess Durga, central figures of the festival.

This pattern, unearthed in a detailed thread by X user @ThePulkitSBisht on October 2, suggests a deliberate sidestepping of Hindu iconography, raising questions about Gandhi’s approach to cultural symbolism and his political strategy ahead of crucial elections. Critics argue this could be a calculated move to appease minority vote banks, a charge that has dogged the Congress leader for years.

The controversy stems from Gandhi’s Vijayadashami post, which echoed his previous festive greetings over the past three years. A thread posted by @ThePulkitSBisht, a vocal commentator on political narratives, meticulously cataloged Gandhi’s social media activity, revealing a consistent trend. For Ram Navami, Gandhi opted for a bow and arrow; for Janmashtami, a flute; for Ganesh Chaturthi, modaks; and for Diwali, a diya—symbols stripped of their divine context.

In stark contrast, his greetings for Eid Milad-un-Nabi featured a crescent moon and mosque silhouette, while a Good Friday message prominently displayed a cross against a sunset. This selective use of religious imagery has fueled accusations that Gandhi, often projected as a bridge between faiths, might be prioritizing political expediency over genuine cultural reverence.

Fact-checking this pattern reveals a troubling consistency. Archival data from Gandhi’s X account, spanning 2022 to 2025, confirms the absence of Hindu deities in his festival posts.

For instance, his 2023 Ram Navami greeting showcased a stylized bow, while the 2024 version repeated the motif, both times avoiding Lord Rama’s image. This stands in sharp contrast to traditional depictions where Rama, victorious over Ravana, is the focal point of the festival.

Similarly, his Vijayadashami post this week, shared at 3:14 AM on October 2, carried a message of “harmony and compassion” but leaned on the bow-and-arrow imagery, sidestepping Durga’s slaying of Mahishasura.

The Indian National Congress, when approached for comment, deflected the criticism, with a spokesperson asserting that Gandhi’s intent was to “unite all communities” through universal symbols. Yet, this explanation has done little to quell the growing debate.

The roots of this controversy may trace back to Gandhi’s high-profile Bharat Jodo Yatra, a 3,570-kilometer march launched on September 7, 2022, from Kanyakumari to Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Wikipedia’s detailed entry on the yatra, updated as recently as April 11, 2025, the campaign aimed to counter the “divisive politics” of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

However, a viral clip from the yatra, highlighted in @ThePulkitSBisht’s thread, shows a Christian priest telling Gandhi that “Jesus is the real God, unlike Shakti,” a statement met with apparent agreement from the Congress leader.

Another video, cited by the thread and corroborated by a July 17, 2025, Yahoo News report, captures Gandhi criticizing a state government during a 2025 rally, with some interpreting his remarks as a subtle jab at Hindu rituals.

While the Yahoo article clarified that the clip was misleadingly edited, the perception lingers, feeding into the narrative of a leader distancing himself from Hindu traditions.

Political analysts suggest this could be a strategic pivot. A February 26, 2025, article from TV9 Hindi outlined Congress’s renewed focus on a coalition of Dalit, tribal, OBC, and Muslim voters, a shift from its historical reliance on upper-caste and minority support.

Gandhi’s avoidance of Hindu deities might be an attempt to avoid alienating these groups, some of whom harbor reservations about idol worship due to monotheistic influences. The NewsMill, reporting on Gandhi’s Vijayadashami message on October 2, noted his emphasis on “justice and truth” over religious specifics, a phrasing that some see as a diplomatic dodge.

As the dust settles on this festive season, the spotlight remains on Gandhi’s political playbook. His Bharat Jodo Yatra, intended to stitch together a fragmented nation, now seems to have exposed a rift in his own narrative.

By sidestepping Hindu deities, he may have hoped to broaden his appeal, but the move has instead invited accusations of pandering and insensitivity. With social media amplifying every misstep, the Congress leader faces a daunting task: reconciling his party’s secular ideals with the deep-rooted traditions of India’s majority. Whether this controversy will reshape his political fortunes remains to be seen, but for now, it has cast a shadow over his carefully crafted image as a champion of unity.