NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Denton, TX, March 26, 2026: A viral TikTok video showing a group of Indian Americans performing Chhath Puja at a lake in Denton has triggered a wave of online reactions, with some Texas residents raising environmental concerns while others have pushed back against what they describe as culturally insensitive criticism.
The video appears to show devotees offering milk and prayers into the lake as part of the Hindu festival, which is traditionally observed by standing in water at sunrise or sunset and making offerings to the Sun God. The ritual is widely practiced in parts of India and among diaspora communities worldwide.
Several social media users criticized the act, arguing that pouring milk into a public water body could harm aquatic ecosystems. One commenter wrote that such actions “pollute local waterways and harm fish and aquatic life,” while another claimed that milk, as organic waste, can increase biological oxygen demand in water and affect oxygen levels for aquatic species.
U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill further amplified the controversy after reposting the video on X, saying he did not want ‘Third World religious ceremonies’ taking place in public aterways in his community.
I don’t want Third World religious ceremonies taking place in my community’s public waterways. https://t.co/efhgtVR4eL
— Brandon Gill (@realBrandonGill) March 26, 2026
Others expressed broader concerns about environmental standards, with some comments drawing unfavorable comparisons to water pollution in India and questioning whether such practices align with local norms in the United States.
A few posts went further, calling for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations and even immigration controls—remarks that have drawn criticism for their tone. One user urged authorities to report “illegal dumping” to agencies such as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
At the same time, other social media users dismissed the backlash as exaggerated or culturally insensitive. Some argued that the quantity of milk used in such rituals is typically small and unlikely to cause measurable environmental harm. Others described the criticism as veering into xenophobia, emphasizing the need to respect cultural and religious practices in a diverse society.
Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God, observed with strict rituals including fasting and offerings made in natural water bodies. In the United States, diaspora communities often adapt these traditions to local environments, including lakes and public parks.
