Statues of Ganesha drank milk in 1995
| Statues of Ganesha drank milk in 1995 | |
|---|---|
| FALSE | |
| "On September 21, 1995, statues of the Hindu god Ganesha and other deities around the world miraculously drank milk offered by worshippers." | |
| Domain | Culture, Religion & Society |
| Tactic | Pseudoscience / Junk Science |
| Era | Historical |
| First seen | 1995 |
| Origin | Reports that began at a temple in New Delhi and spread within hours through word of mouth, telephone calls and news media across India and to Hindu communities worldwide |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-27 |
| Further reading: books on Culture, Religion & Society | |
The claim that statues of Ganesha drank milk in 1995 became known as the Hindu milk miracle. On September 21, 1995, a worshipper in New Delhi reported that a statue of Ganesha had accepted milk offered on a spoon. News spread rapidly, and within hours crowds were lining up at temples across India and in Britain, the United States and elsewhere, offering milk to statues that appeared to absorb it. Milk sales surged in some areas. Scientists from India's Ministry of Science and Technology demonstrated that the effect was caused by capillary action: milk was drawn from the spoon by surface tension and then ran down the front of the statue. The phenomenon faded within about a day.
What the evidence shows
- Capillary action. When a spoon of liquid touches the surface of a statue, surface tension can pull a thin film of liquid off the spoon and onto the statue, where it runs down unnoticed, especially on porous stone or glazed surfaces.
- Demonstration. Scientists added food coloring to milk offered to a statue and showed that the colored milk coated the statue after it seemed to disappear.
- Any object. Observers found that the same effect occurred with non-religious objects and with other liquids.
- Rapid spread. The event spread through telephone networks and media coverage, illustrating how quickly belief can spread through communities before explanations become available.
- Brief recurrence. Similar reports occurred in 2006 and were explained in the same way.
Why it persists
The event offered believers a joyful, shared religious experience, and many people saw the effect with their own eyes. Eyewitness experience can feel more convincing than scientific explanation.
Lessons for readers
- Seeing something happen does not mean you know why it happens.
- Simple physical processes can produce surprising effects.
- Belief can spread rapidly through social networks.
- Test whether an effect occurs under ordinary conditions too.
See also
- The Shroud of Turin is the burial cloth of Jesus
- Ouija boards are moved by spirits
- Astrology predicts personality and destiny
Sources
- International news coverage of the "milk miracle," including the BBC and Indian press, September 1995.