Man earns Rs 2350 in just 180 mins while applying tilak in Rishikesh, netizens amused

A content creator has gone viral after conducting what he described as a "social experiment" in the holy town of Rishikesh, claiming to have earned ₹2,350 in about three hours by applying tilak to visitors. The video, shared by social media creator Tanee Thakur, has garnered more than 4 million views and triggered widespread discussion online.

According to Thakur, he dressed in a traditional outfit and walked through Rishikesh offering to apply tilak on people's foreheads. The video shows him approaching passersby, with many declining the offer while some agreed.

"So I put on this traditional outfit and stepped out on the streets of Rishikesh to apply tilak. People are literally refusing to get one. And in the first one hour I'm only able to apply tilak to 20 people," he said.


The video does not make it clear whether Thakur expected payment for applying the tilak. He was not seen asking people for money, and his tilak plate did not contain any banknotes after the first few interactions.

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Thakur said the experiment took a different turn during the Ganga Aarti, when he headed to the ghat after initially believing he would earn only ₹50 to ₹60.

During the aarti, several people agreed to have tilak applied. Many gave him ₹10 or ₹20, while some handed him ₹100. Thakur suggested that some may have assumed he was a genuine godman.

"In just 3 hours, I end up applying tilak to nearly 400 people," he said.

By the end of the three-hour experiment, Thakur said he had collected ₹2,350 from strangers in Rishikesh. He added that the amount would translate to around ₹70,000 a month if earned consistently by working three hours daily.

Video draws mixed reactions online

Thakur's claim that someone could earn around ₹70,000 a month through the activity attracted widespread attention on social media, where the viral video has received over 4 million views.

The comments section featured a range of reactions. One user wrote, "How to apply for this internship," while another commented, "Next summer internship plan."

Others expressed criticism, with one Instagram user writing, "Religion is a business." Another added, "The best business you can do is business of religion." Additional comments included, "No tax btw" and "New career scope unlocked."

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