Mount Girnar Viral Video Sparks Online Debate Over Pilgrims Being Carried in Palanquins
A viral video showing four men carrying a pilgrim up steep steps of Mount Girnar in Gujarat has reignited a heated public debate over traditional palanquin (palki or doli) services. The footage, widely shared on social media, shows porters navigating the steep climb while balancing a devotee seated on a wooden frame, raising questions about labor ethics and local livelihoods.
A viral video showing four men carrying a pilgrim up the steep steps of Mount Girnar in Gujarat has reignited a heated public debate over traditional palanquin (palki or doli) services. The footage, widely shared on social media, shows porters navigating the steep climb while balancing a devotee seated on a wooden frame, raising questions about labor ethics, human dignity, and local livelihoods.
Mount Girnar, located in Gujarat’s Junagadh district, is a major pilgrimage site featuring roughly 10,000 steps leading to its summit. For decades, local bearers have operated palanquin services to transport visitors who are physically unable or choose not to undertake the strenuous trek on foot. Chhattisgarh: Tribal Woman Carries 90-Year-Old Mother-in-Law To Bank on Her Back for 3 Km To Retrieve Stopped Pension; Video Surfaces.
The recent clip gained traction online after users questioned whether the practice of individuals physically carrying another human being remains appropriate in modern times. Critics argued that the work is physically taxing and called for stricter regulatory oversight or alternative transit infrastructure to reduce reliance on manual labor.
'Better Stay Home Than Exploit Others'
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 (@bakwasfellow) July 20, 2026
This is a video from Girnar Mountain in Junagadh, Gujarat. A baby elephant, sitting on the shoulders of four ants, is climbing 9,999 steps to visit Lord Dattatreya.
Do you think God will be pleased with this? pic.twitter.com/F8hIoWf1ns
— दुष्ट दुर्योधन 🚩 (@dusht_duryodhan) July 20, 2026
However, defenders of the service pointed out that the traditional practice serves as a vital source of income for local families in the region. Supporters also emphasized that palanquins provide essential accessibility for elderly, disabled, or sick devotees who would otherwise be unable to complete the sacred pilgrimage.
Girnar Palanquin Bearers Work By Choice
This is Mount Girnar, located in Junagadh, Gujarat. Many people work here carrying pilgrims in palakhis. They are paid per trip according to the pilgrim’s weight, and they decide whether to accept a trip…. https://t.co/od31LqKhrS
— Oyye Nick (@Niks_here_) July 20, 2026
Apparently this is Mount Girnar near Junagadh in Gujarat. Lots of Hindu and Jain Temples. Here you see the ill effects of pure veg carbmaxxed diet. A staggering 2 out of 5 urban Gujjus are either overweight or obese. They are still not even $5k GDP per capita. Imagine the fatty… https://t.co/HV77X4mOP1 pic.twitter.com/u72fs16pXq
— Indian Tintin (@IndianTintin_) July 21, 2026
Palanquin services remain common across several high-altitude Indian pilgrimage destinations, including Vaishno Devi and Sammed Shikharji. While modern solutions such as ropeways exist in certain areas, traditional porter services continue to operate as an established economic ecosystem supporting local workers.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2026 02:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
