A viral video showing foreign tourists being verbally harassed at Varanasi’s Dashashwamedh Ghat has triggered a nationwide debate on cultural sensitivity, religious decorum, and the safety of visitors at sacred sites.
BY PC Bureau
Varanasi, December 28, 2025 — A viral video showing foreign tourists being confronted and verbally harassed by locals at the iconic Dashashwamedh Ghat on the banks of the Ganga has ignited a fierce debate on social media, raising broader questions about cultural sensitivity, religious decorum, and the treatment of visitors in India’s holiest city.
The incident, which reportedly occurred earlier this week during the Christmas season, shows a group of foreign tourists attempting to take a ritual dip in the river while wearing minimal swimwear—described in local reports as “kaccha” or underwear-like trunks—and red Santa Claus caps. Dashashwamedh Ghat, one of the most sacred and crowded riverfronts in Varanasi, is central to Hindu religious life and daily worship.
In the video, a gathering of locals is seen surrounding the tourists, accusing them of showing disrespect to the sacred site. Some members of the crowd alleged that the visitors had urinated in the river—an accusation that remains unverified—while others objected to what they perceived as inappropriate attire and the use of Christmas-themed accessories at a spiritually significant location.
The whole world should watch this video.
Japanese tourists face abuse in Varanasi.
As shown in the video, they had to connect their hands and apologize. They wore Santa Claus crowns and swimsuits.
The crowd intimidated, abused and chased them away. pic.twitter.com/RIPEIoiQIn
— Darab Farooqui (@darab_farooqui) December 28, 2025
Visibly frightened, the tourists were forced to repeatedly apologise with folded hands before being allowed to leave the ghat. While no physical assault was reported, the confrontation involved sustained verbal abuse and intimidation, prompting widespread concern over mob behaviour.
Varanasi, often described as the spiritual capital of India, attracts millions of pilgrims and international visitors each year for its ghats, temples, and the famed evening Ganga Aarti. Dashashwamedh Ghat, in particular, serves as a focal point for ritual bathing and religious ceremonies.
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Public reaction online has been sharply divided. Supporters of the locals argue that modest dressing and cultural awareness are essential at sacred sites, regardless of nationality. Critics, however, have condemned the harassment as hypocritical and harmful to India’s global tourism image, noting that Indian pilgrims often bathe in minimal clothing without facing similar hostility.
Others have warned that such incidents could deter foreign tourists, especially as Varanasi positions itself as a global spiritual destination, with nearby sites like Sarnath drawing international Buddhist visitors.
No official police complaint has been reported, and authorities have yet to issue a statement. As the video continues to circulate widely, the episode highlights the unresolved tension between safeguarding religious sensibilities and ensuring respectful, humane treatment of visitors in India’s ancient sacred spaces.
