Foreign Woman in Bikini Takes Holy Dip in River Ganga Near Rishikesh; Viral Video Sparks Online Debate

Trending News: A video of a foreign woman taking a dip in the River Ganga wearing a bikini near Rishikesh’s iconic Lakshman Jhula has gone viral, receiving mixed reactions online. The clip, widely shared on social media, has sparked a heated discussion about personal freedom and cultural sensitivity. The video shows the woman standing near the holy river in a bikini, wearing a garland of flowers around her neck. She folds her hands in prayer and offers her respects before placing the garland into the water. Then she takes a dip and begins to swim. While some people found her actions harmless, others criticised them as disrespectful to the sanctity of one of India’s most sacred rivers.

Some People Support Her Intentions

Many users defended the woman, saying she did not mean to offend anyone. One person wrote, “Her intentions weren’t wrong while taking the dip.” Another highlighted the double standards, asking, “When men bathe wearing just underwear, isn’t that disrespectful too?” Someone else added, “Don’t hate her, maybe she didn’t even think about it that way.”

Others Criticise the Act as Disrespectful

However, not everyone shared the same view. Some strongly opposed the act, calling it disrespectful to Indian traditions and religious feelings. One comment said, “People defend anything to look open-minded. If someone can’t stand by their own culture, they start praising Western culture.”Another user wrote, “Why didn’t anyone stop her? If an Indian woman did this, it would become a big issue. But when foreigners do it, no one says anything.” Amidst the arguments, one user made a light-hearted remark, saying, “The uncles who bathe wearing Lux Cozi underwear must be the ones getting offended.”

Debate Over Culture and Freedom

The video has once again raised questions about how visitors should behave at spiritual sites like Rishikesh, which attracts thousands of foreign tourists every year. For Indians, the Ganga is not just a river—it is worshipped as a goddess and holds deep cultural and religious value. When tourists act differently from local customs, it often leads to controversy and public debate.