A viral video filmed at Mount Girnar in India’s Gujarat state has sparked widespread debate after showing four porters carrying a man in a traditional hand-carried litter, known as a palki, up more than 10,000 stone steps leading to the sacred Dattatreya Peak.
The footage has circulated widely on social media, with many users criticizing the scene as a symbol of economic inequality and questioning whether it is ethical for people to pay others to carry them up such a physically demanding climb.
Others, however, defended the long-standing practice, noting that palki services are primarily intended for elderly pilgrims, people with disabilities and visitors who are physically unable to complete the ascent on foot.
Supporters also argued that the porters perform the work voluntarily and rely on it as an important source of income for their families. Some pointed out that similar porter services at other pilgrimage sites in India have opposed proposed ropeway projects out of concern that they would lose their livelihoods.
Mount Girnar is one of India’s most important pilgrimage destinations, attracting thousands of devotees each year. The mountain is home to several Hindu and Jain temples, and reaching its highest shrines requires climbing more than 10,000 steep stone steps.
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The viral video has reignited conversations about tourism, privilege, labor, dignity and economic inequality, with opinions remaining sharply divided online.
