A ritual meant to symbolize devotion and purity has sparked intense debate. Pouring milk into the Ganga River, known as Dudh abhishek, is a common Hindu practice for expressing gratitude and devotion. Devotees often offer it to Goddess Ganga or during worship of the Shivling.
However, a video has emerged online that raises questions about the ritual’s relevance in light of real-world needs.
Man Immerses Milk In Ganga River Instead Of Offering To Poor Kids
The clip shows a man performing DugdhAbhishek when a few girls come nearby with containers, trying to collect the flowing milk. The devotee notices them and quickly moves so the milk does not spill into their pots. The video shared by a journalist on X with the caption: “A devotee is immersing milk into the Ganga Ji while some poor little girls arrive with their pots and start taking the milk. But…”
Ritual Or Responsibility? The Online Debate
While the video is brief, it resonated with viewers who questioned the balance between performing a sacred ritual in Ganga River and addressing practical human needs. One user commented, “This milk was more essential for these poor people than for this river.” Another added, “It’s terrible how temples create so much waste that could given to the poor and needy. It always makes me wonder how people who worship Gods can simply not be more human themselves.”
“If he had just given the milk to the kids, he would’ve earned a lot more good karma,” someone else wrote. “Was this washing away the sins, or just whitewashing them?) a person remarked. Another individual questioned, “If faith is about compassion, should milk offered to a river or to hungry children standing nearby?”
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