A video of Mathura’s Banke Bihari Mandir in Vrindavan has surfaced showing devotees eagerly drinking water dripping from the mouth of an elephant sculpture, mistaking it for Charan Amrit—a sacred offering of holy water believed to have touched Lord Krishna’s feet. The footage, widely shared on social media, shows dozens of devotees collecting the water by cupping their hands or using cups, driven by the belief that it was blessed. However, a report from Jagran clarified that the water was actually discharge from an air conditioning unit flowing through tubes fashioned to resemble elephants, which are part of the temple’s architectural design.
Despite this clarification, some devotees continued to consume the water, as seen in the video, even as a bystander filming the scene attempted to inform them that the liquid was not holy water but AC runoff. The incident has sparked a lively discussion online, with many social media users reflecting on the need for a stronger scientific outlook in society. One user commented, “A mind without scientific temper is the birthplace of myths, superstition, hate, division.
It’s a threat to democracy and promotes herd mentality.” Another questioned, “Why does nobody stop for a second and even think about what’s happening here? Such a herd mentality.” In addition to the discourse on gullibility, medical expert The Liver Doc issued a health warning, advising against drinking water from air conditioning systems.
“Cooling and .