During the Onam occasion, a Bengaluru resident took issue with BigBasket for giving her free flowers in her shopping order. Sushma Iyengar expressed her displeasure on social networking platform X, challenging BigBasket’s choice to include marigold flowers as a complementary gift. Her message provoked a contentious discussion on social media, with many people asking why someone would be against receiving flowers.
Based in Karnataka and well-known for her backing of the pro-Kannada movement, Iyengar did not find Onam, which is mainly celebrated in Kerala, to be very festive.
She expressed her annoyance on X, saying, “BigBasket says we SHOULD celebrate Onam! It is their decision, not ours! She expressed her disapproval of the company for “forcefully” forcing the flowers on its patrons and questioned whether they would follow suit for future holidays such as Deepavali, Dasara, or Varamahalakshmi.
So according to @bigbasket_com , we SHOULD celebrate onam! We like it or not is not upto us. It is upto them!
— ಸುಷ್ಮಾ ಅಯ್ಯಂಗಾರ್ (@malnadkoos) September 15, 2024
They come and forcefully dump this on us. Will you do the same for other festivals?? Varamahalakshmi? Dasara? Deepavali?
Why give it for free for ONAM?? This is worse… pic.twitter.com/bV0oiWr8UR
Over 4 lakh people have viewed Iyengar’s post on X, and opinions are divided. Some readers agreed with her fears on Karnataka’s changing demographics, while others thought she was exaggerating. Regardless of faith, a user brought attention to the fact that BigBasket frequently provides free presents for different holidays. “They’re literally giving away free flowers, and you found a problem with even that,” said another commenter. Crazy.
Stop making everything an issue. I had received free gifts on Yugadi as well. By playing such cheap tricks you're only bringing hatred towards our language, culture and people. Let's respect everybody and their culture.
— Lost (@MSDFan_007) September 15, 2024
