Some Hindu devotees clothed the Hanuman statute in red and white -- the dress worn by Santa Claus.

Of the many issues that made headlines in 2018, Lord Hanuman's identity was unique in its own right. From being called a Dalit by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, to claims that he was a Jain, a Muslim, sportsperson, a Chinese and a Jat, identities for the monkey god were aplenty.

In the latest, a new controversy has emerged in Gujarat where a temple has clothed a statute of Hanuman with a Santa Claus dress. The incident took place in Sarangpur where Hanuman is worshiped as 'Kashtbhanjan Dev'. On Sunday (December 30), some Hindu devotees clothed the Hanuman statute in red and white -- the dress worn by Santa Claus.

However, this move did not go well with all. Some devotees who visited the temple later in the day objected to the dress. They expressed their anger and disappointment with the temple authorities.

Meanwhile, the temple authorities brushed the controversy aside. They said the dress was sent by Lord Hanuman's devotees in the US.

"The clothes are woolen and they will prevent the God from catching cold," the authorities said.

Swami Viveksagar Maharaj, head priest of the temple, said the clothes are not of Santa Claus. "They are made of velvet and hence we decided to clothe Hanuman with them. There was no intention of hurting anyone's sentiments."

On the other hand, as people continued to express their anger over the Santa Claus dress, the temple authorities later changed them.

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