Muslim woman forced into Hindu marriage ritual in India
Viral footage from eastern India has sparked outrage after woman was seen having hijab removed and vermilion applied amid chants of Hindu religious slogans
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A viral video from the eastern Indian state of Bihar has triggered outrage after appearing to show a Muslim woman being forced to undergo Hindu marriage rituals by a crowd, in what social media users described as another instance of religious intimidation targeting the country’s Muslim minority.
The footage, which has circulated widely online, is said to have been recorded on July 2 in Kamalpur village of Bihar’s Saran district. According to posts accompanying the video, the woman was coerced into participating in a ceremony conducted according to Hindu customs, although authorities have not publicly verified those claims.
The video shows the woman surrounded by dozens of people as her hijab is forcibly removed before sindoor, the red vermilion traditionally worn by many married Hindu women, is applied to her forehead.
Members of the crowd can be heard chanting “Jai Bajrang Bali,” a Hindu religious slogan associated with the deity Hanuman that has increasingly been used by Hindu nationalist groups during public mobilizations.
Throughout the footage, the woman appears visibly distressed. At one point she asks, “Why are you making the video?”, suggesting the incident was being filmed and circulated without her consent.
The video prompted widespread condemnation on social media, where users alleged the woman had been forced into the ritual against her will and urged Bihar Police to identify those involved and investigate whether criminal offences had been committed.
Several users described the incident as an act of religious coercion and intimidation, expressing concern over the safety of Muslims and other religious minorities in India. Others called for a prompt police investigation and legal action against those responsible.
Police had not issued an official statement at the time of publication, and it remained unclear whether a criminal case had been registered.
The incident comes amid growing reports in which members of India’s Muslim minority have been forced to participate in Hindu religious practices or chant Hindu slogans by Hindu extremist groups.
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