Claim: Video clip shows lower caste Hindus being forced to eat food that is served to them on the floor.
Conclusion: The claim is Misleading. The video showcases the age-old tradition of Karnataka’s Udupi Krishna Temple where devotees voluntarily choose to eat the prasad on the floor when their prayers are answered.
Rating: Misleading–
Several social media users have shared a clip and claimed that lower caste Hindus are being forced to eat from the floor at temples. X user ‘MuslimahAqsa’ shared such a claim with the caption: ये हिंदू धर्म की खूबसूरती गरीब नीची जाति के लोगों को जमीन पर खाना उतारा जा रहा है और ऊंची जाति के लोगो को थाली में. इसलिए कहती हूं इस्लाम से बेहतर कोई मजहब नहीं…”
In English it reads: “The beauty of Hinduism is food being served to the poor low-caste people on the ground, and to the high-caste people in a plate. That’s why I say there is no religion better than Islam…” The post gained over 45,000 views and can be viewed here.
ये हिंदू धर्म की खूबसूरती गरीब नीची जाति के लोगों को जमीन पर खाना उतारा जा रहा है और ऊंची जाति के लोगो को थाली में.
इसलिए कहती हूं इस्लाम से बेहतर कोई मजहब नहीं… pic.twitter.com/dveIBFYAvU— ✨𝘼𝙦𝙨𝙖 𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙖✨ (@MuslimahAqsa) October 28, 2025
Same claim was made on Instagram on 27th Oct 2025. See here:
FACT CHECK
DigitEYE India investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. The real context of the clip has been misrepresented. The footage actually depicts a longstanding tradition at Karnataka’s Udupi Krishna Temple.
First, we conducted a web search with the phrase “Udupi Krishna Temple devotees eat food on floor” to get more information or reports about this claim. We found several channels posting about this 700-year-old tradition which can be seen here and here.
View this post on Instagram
History behind this practice goes like this: In the 16th century, Hindu Saint Kanakadasa was denied entry into the Krishna temple due to his lower caste status. In response, Kanakadasa sat behind the temple, singing a song praising Lord Krishna. As per the legend, Lord Krishna’s Idol miraculously rotated itself towards Kanakadasa, creating a big hole in the wall through which kanakadasa saw the idol of Lord Krishna. Hence, even today, all the devotees do take darshan of Krishna through this window as well, known as Kanaka na kindi (Kanaka’s Window). Currently, there is no such caste discrimination.
Coming to eating food on the floor, it is a tradition here, and is optional and not compulsory, nor imposed on any one caste. Some devotees partake the prasaad or lunch on the floor instead of using a plantain leaf, as a seva to the deity for fulfilling their prayers. The practice has no caste overtones and all are treated equal, whether they choose to eat on a plantain or on the floor. See the below video or click here.
Another Verified Instagram user ‘miss.pragatiii’ also posted comments on the video. We noticed that the video in her reel has the caption ““बताओ कौन सा मंदिर है? Meaning “Tell me, which temple is this?” She explains that people at Karnataka’s Udupi Krishna Temple have the option to eat in a banana leaf or can eat on the ground that has been cleaned properly, no feet are kept on it. View the post below:
View this post on Instagram
Another report published by Times Now Marathi sheds further light on this tradition. Translated to English, the report mentions how “the devotee whose wish is fulfilled, eats the food offered on the floor of this temple to express his gratitude to Lord Krishna and show his devotion towards him.” View a section from the report below:
The video showcases the age-old tradition of Karnataka’s Udupi Krishna Temple where devotees voluntarily choose to eat the prasad on the floor when their prayers are answered and not that lower caste Hindus are being forced to eat food served on the floor. Irrespective of caste everyone is served food either in a plate or on the floor as per devotees’ wish.
Hence, the claim is Misleading.
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