Ayurvedic hookah by yoga guru Baba Ramdev sparks memefest online; here’s everything you need to know | Today’s news
Social media users went into a frenzy after a video allegedly showed yoga guru Baba Ramdev holding up a hookah. The clip, which has sparked reactions online, shows Ramdev alongside a woman smoking what is presented as an “Ayurvedic hookah” containing a mixture of herbs and traditional ingredients.
Ramdev Promotes Ayurvedic Hookah: Here’s What You Need To Know
A video shared on Ramdev’s Instagram account shows the yoga guru preparing a hookah by placing mulethi, also known as licorice, on top of the hookah or chilla. While explaining the preparation, he says, “isme saari jari butiya hai” (this contains all the herbs).
The yoga guru can then be seen adding a number of ingredients such as turmeric, mustard seeds, carom seeds, camphor and kakda singi before being heard saying, “Ye hukkah ban gaya” (the hookah is ready). The video also shows him putting camphor on the fire in preparation.
Later in the video, he suggested the woman inhale the smoke, saying it can help balance vata, pitta and kapha, the three doshas in Ayurveda, and offer relief from ailments such as coughs and stuffy noses.
Social media reacts to Baba Ramdev’s ‘Ayurvedic hookah’
The video quickly gained attention online, prompting several social media users to joke about the idea of giving traditional smoking an Ayurvedic twist.
One user wrote, “Ab saare club or pub me Baaba Ramdev ka hukka,” and ended the tweet by spinning the Hookah Bar song. Another user seems to approach the concept from a historical perspective, writing: “Hukka feels real in Ayurveda; smoke was a cure in ancient Bharat.”
A third user mocked “Ayurvedic hookah” and wrote: “Ab wo din dur nhi jab Herbal daru ayega” (the day is not far when alcohol will also be made from herbal ingredients).
While many joked about the Ayurvedic hookah and the apparent health benefits it could offer, social media user Ramdev hit back, writing, “Waiting for the Supreme Court to finally hold this crook accountable and teach him a lesson once and for all.”
It is worth noting that this “Ayurvedic hookah” is not available for purchase as it has not been launched as an official product in the country. Neither Baba Ramdev nor Patanjali have issued any statement regarding the viral video or its claims of potential health benefits.
Nevertheless, the video sparked a wider debate on the Internet about the use of traditional ingredients in smoking aids and whether such practices can be considered a healthier alternative to conventional hookahs.
