Rs 8L Worth Of Milk Poured Into Narmada: India Furious, Environmentalists Warn Of River Damage

11,000 Litres Of Milk Poured Into Narmada: Organisers said the ritual was performed to purify the river and invoke prosperity.

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What is the story about?

A religious ritual in Madhya Pradesh has sparked a sharp national debate — pitting faith against ecology, and devotion against deprivation.

At Satdev village in Sehore district’s Bherunda area, roughly 90 km from the district headquarters, followers of saint Dada Ji Baba concluded a 21-day Mahayagna with a Maha Abhishek ritual on Wednesday.

The grand finale involved pouring approximately 11,000 litres of milk — worth between Rs 5.5 lakh and Rs 8 lakh — directly into the Narmada River, considered the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh.

Tankers carried the milk to the riverbank, where sadhus in saffron robes chanted mantras and raised their hands as the offering flowed into the water. Organisers said the ritual was performed to purify the river and invoke

prosperity.

When Videos Went Viral

The event was filmed and spread rapidly across social media — and so did the backlash. On X, reactions ranged from outrage to dark humour.

“In an ideal world, that’s a criminal offence,” wrote one user. Another called it an act of “killing our rivers.” Comedian-writer Varun Grover offered a drier take: “Chill guys. Urea se banaaya hua doodh tha.”

Chill guys. Urea se banaaya hua doodh tha. https://t.co/lM99caI3Wy

— वरुण 🇮🇳 (@varungrover) April 9, 2026

What The Experts Say

Environmentalists were quick to flag the ecological damage. Activist Ajay Dube warned that large quantities of organic matter deplete dissolved oxygen, threatening aquatic life and communities dependent on the river for drinking water.

Environmentalist Subhash Pandey called the milk a “significant organic pollutant” capable of triggering eutrophication, aquatic mortality, and loss of potability — effects documented in dairy-effluent incidents worldwide.

The Comparison That Cut Deepest

What stung most for many was the timing. Last month, a video from Mahoba district showed a cook allegedly diluting two half-litre milk packets into a bucket of water to serve as mid-day meal for an entire school.

The contrast — thousands of litres surrendered to a river while children drink watered-down milk — lit up timelines and drew furious comparisons.

😷 https://t.co/DwEa6dDBIw pic.twitter.com/HSLFfIo43U

— Sachin Gupta (@Sachingupta) April 9, 2026

The Bigger Picture

Supporters defended the ritual as an act of traditional devotion. But with the Narmada already under environmental stress across its 1,312-km journey through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat before emptying into the Arabian Sea, the question many are asking is: at what cost?