4 Men Carry Pilgrim Up 10,000 Steps In Gujarat, Viral Video Sparks 'Stop This Practice' Debate

Amid the ongoing rush of pilgrims visiting various religious shrines across the country, a video from Gujarat has sparked a heated debate online.

The clip, showing four men carrying a pilgrim in a traditional palki up a steep flight of stone steps, has divided the internet over the practice of humans carrying other humans. They argued over whether such practices should continue.

In a video shared on X, four men, who work as doli or palki porters, were seen carrying a pilgrim, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers. The carriage, known as a doli, is a service that has existed for generations at several pilgrimage sites across India.

Most people hire such a service for elderly devotees, people with mobility issues, or those who find climbing

such steep and long terrain difficult. Some pilgrims also opt for the service for convenience.

As seen in the clip, the porters used sticks to support themselves and maintain balance while climbing the long flight of stone steps. It was seemingly filmed on Gujarat’s Mount Girnar in Junagadh, a major pilgrimage site where devotees climb around 10,000 steps to reach the revered Dattatreya Peak. As they navigated the narrow uphill path, the physical strain on the carriers was evident, sparking an online debate.

Internet Is Divided Over Porter Services

Many viewers sympathised with the four men, saying the incident highlighted the immense physical labour involved in carrying a grown man up thousands of steps. Others argue that the porters are being paid handsomely for their service and it is a crucial livelihood for many families living in such areas.

One user wrote, “Yes, this practice should be stopped or only allowed for people with medical conditions.”

“Using humans as human shields or personal pack mules just because you’re lazy is absolute garbage behaviour. Stay home,” another said.

If you don’t have the health to go, why bother going??, better stay at home instead of using other fellow human like slaves 😡 pic.twitter.com/1iffGHX6su

— BAKWAS FELLOW (@siva17subraman) July 20, 2026

However, an individual shared, “Yes, it reminds me of slavery, not good that way. But if we see it without bias, the guy is paying & 4 men are taking him purely for money. It’s a proper transaction & everyone is happy. There is no slavery. Problem lies with the govt, which doesn’t provide facilities; we should raise that.”

“Those guys charge a minimum of 20 to 25000 rs for 5000 steps and for the entire 9999 steps maybe more than that based on weight; it’s their job, and they are habituated with it, so nothing to worry about, chill guys,” mentioned a different person.

Someone else commented, “This looks bad, but these guys earn a lot in this business. I am not justifying this and also want this practice to end, but these guys are willingly doing it. No one is forcing them.”