A video shared by British-Indian broadcaster Narinder Kaur, comparing the festive spirit in India and the United Kingdom, has ignited a significant online discussion about secularism and cultural respect. The post, which has garnered millions of views, highlights the visible celebration of Christmas in Delhi despite India's small Christian minority.
Viral Praise for Delhi's Christmas Decor
On December 19, Narinder Kaur uploaded a video from a hotel in Delhi showcasing a giant Christmas tree and staff wearing Santa hats. She expressed her amazement in the caption, noting that while Christians constitute only around 2% of India's population, the festival is celebrated with majority-like enthusiasm and respect. Her post has since crossed over 5 million views on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
In her observations, Kaur contrasted this scene with the United Kingdom. She pointed out that while major non-Christian festivals like Diwali and Eid are celebrated in London, she questioned whether hotel staff in the UK would reciprocate the gesture by wearing religious attire like a turban or a skull-cap out of respect for those festivals. "Can you imagine UK hotel staff wearing turbans during Diwali? The right-wing would have a meltdown," she added.
Mixed Reactions and a Heated Debate
The viral clip triggered a flood of mixed reactions from social media users globally. While some agreed with her perspective, others defended the UK's record on tolerance. One user countered, "I beg to differ we are very tolerant in the UK." Another supported Kaur, writing, "Well said, and it shows fear and insecurity among many in the UK."
The debate also touched on nuances of religious symbolism. A user commented, "I think you make a good point. However, I would never wear a turban during Diwali because I would feel that it would not be respectful... Santa hat is not religious." Another user brought up a different angle, asking why Kaur did not mention the backlash Muslims sometimes face from within their community for celebrating Christmas.
Kaur engaged with some comments, clarifying her stance. In response to a user who stated that Muslims in Britain do celebrate Christmas with family dinners, she replied, "They wouldn't though? Muslims in Britain celebrate Xmas Day the same as Hindus and Sikhs in Britain. They get together as families and have a dinner of some sort. I'm not sure what you mean."
Narinder Kaur: From Big Brother to Frequent Controversies
Narinder Kaur first entered the public eye in 2001 as a contestant on Big Brother UK, becoming the show's first British-Indian housemate. She has since built a consistent media career, appearing regularly on programmes like Good Morning Britain, GB News, and the Jeremy Vine show, and writing for publications such as The Times and The Daily Mirror.
Her public profile has often been accompanied by controversy. In 2024, actor Laurence Fox was charged with 'upskirting' after sharing a private image of Kaur from 2009 without her consent. Earlier in 2025, she faced severe criticism for a now-deleted tweet questioning why the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, had "aged so much" during her cancer treatment, for which she later apologised.
Kaur has also previously praised India's progress, notably going viral for commending the Vande Bharat trains while criticising British rail services as lagging "embarrassingly behind." Her latest commentary on cross-cultural celebrations continues her pattern of sparking public discourse, this time putting a spotlight on the practical manifestations of secularism in two major democracies.
