A viral video, where tourists are seen polluting the sacred Saraswati River in Uttarakhand’s Mana village, has sparked huge outrage across social media about irresponsible tourism and environmental harm at religious places. In the viral clip, a woman is shown throwing prashad into the river, and even scattered along the riverbank. This has made devotees, environmentalists and social media users furious, and many users asking how a place worshipped by millions can be treated with so much disregard. Some users even went a bit further, saying there should be stricter rules, more proper waste management, and tougher enforcement, cleanliness norms at pilgrimage destinations are followed in practice, not merely discussed or talked about.
Watch Viral Video
Tourists throwing waste into Saraswati river in Mana village. There’s a rsn this river is only visible in Uttarakhand, but bcuz of this TOXIC cow belt culture of 0 civic sense, it’ll disappear frm it’s last remaining home too. Religious tourism has ruined Himalayas beyond repair. pic.twitter.com/yrzGhFgNiG
— Himalayan Hindu (@himalayanhindu) June 3, 2026
What Happened Here?
The Saraswati River sort of holds a special place in Hindu tradition and myth. Even though most people say it flows invisibly under the ground, then it eventually merges with the Ganga and Yamuna at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Mana village near Badrinath is treated as the only spot where the river can be seen for real, coming out from its own hill origin. Every year, thousands of pilgrims, and plain visitors come there, to hear the loud roar of this sacred flow before it merges with the Alaknanda River at Keshav Prayag. But lately, the count of tourists keeps on growing, and that has begun stirring worries about what it could do to the delicate Himalayan ecology.
Social Media Reactions
Chamoli, Uttarakhand
Many devotees were throwing used puja products into the Saraswati River.
I might get hate for this, but this is not our culture.
In the old days, everything was organic and biodegradable.
Please don’t throw plastic and other trash into our holy rivers. pic.twitter.com/mFzir3mIQU
— ︎ ︎venom (@venom1s) June 3, 2026
These people ar same who once refused to even belive this river is saraswati. But the moment they get chance to visit that place they turned it like their native place dirty as hell. https://t.co/3WtVNZsbWl
— TheAbandonMan (@TheAbandonMan) June 3, 2026
Sorry but, Hindus will try their best to destroy everything that God made including humans( if not from same caste). Here they are throwing offerings directly into the river like they do at the Ganga banks. #ManaVillage #SaraswatiRiver #Uttarakhand #NatureFirst #SaveOurRivers pic.twitter.com/imRITDKnP1
— 乙 乇 (@zapata_emilo) June 3, 2026
Dehati. Gawaar. 🙏🏻
They think if they THROW prasad towards Saraswati river, maa will bless them
Na spiritual hai, na civic sense https://t.co/sHcMbUUGrI— Niha (@xAstralDrift) June 3, 2026
Why Is Mana Village Famous?
Located around 3,200 metres above sea level in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, Mana village is often called India’s first village and it also becomes a big draw for people heading toward Badrinath. Besides the religious weight it carries, the area is also famous for its natural allure and cultural lineage. This new controversy, has brought the whole issue back into focus awareness campaigns should be stronger, waste disposal rules must be more strict and visitors should behave responsibly so those sacred and environmentally sensitive spots can be safeguarded for coming generations.
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