Durga Puja in Kolkata is often described as more than a festival—it is an emotion. This year, that spirit has spilled into the workplace. A video from Capgemini’s Kolkata office, showing employees celebrating the festival at work, has gone viral on Instagram.
The clip, posted by user Prithwi Dey with the caption “Corporate Durga Puja Celebration… Ft. Capgemini”, shows a floor with festive decorations. Music fills the office as employees dance, cheer, and capture the moment on their phones. For some viewers, it was a heartwarming glimpse of tradition finding space in corporate life.
Reactions online, however, have been sharply divided. Supporters praised the effort, with one Capgemini employee from Gurgaon commenting that they would like similar celebrations at their campus. Others, however, saw it as forced festivity. One user remarked that employees seemed to have “forgotten how to celebrate and enjoy as humans,” while another suggested social media reels glamourise office culture without showing the reality of stagnant pay and lack of growth.
Criticism also turned satirical. A Hindi comment read: “Leave cancel karke, ethnic wear m office bulakar nachwake sahanubhuti de rahe hai”—suggesting that companies cancel leaves, call staff in traditional attire, make them dance, and then act sympathetic.
Yet, not everyone was cynical. One participant in the event responded positively, saying it genuinely felt “awesome” to be part of the celebrations.
The mixed responses highlight a larger debate around Indian corporate culture—whether office festivities are a true extension of community spirit, or simply a glossy distraction from workplace challenges. This discussion resonates beyond private companies. A recent Reddit post on r/IndianWorkplace by a government bank employee revealed that they received a warning email from HR after taking a single day of sick leave.
The email, titled “Explanation for Proceeding on Leave Without Prior Permission,” stated that taking leave without prior approval is considered a serious violation of official discipline. The employee was asked to provide a written explanation within three days, with failure to respond being treated as an absence of satisfactory explanation. The post, captioned “There is no work-life balance in government banks,” included a screenshot showing the HR department warning that such conduct “reflects negligence towards official responsibilities and disregard for administrative discipline.”
The Reddit post prompted discussions about strict leave policies in government jobs and the pressures faced by employees, serving as a stark contrast to the celebratory, festive image corporate offices try to project. Together, these narratives underscore a growing conversation about the gap between curated workplace culture and the realities of employee well-being in India.