Other Tourist Scams in Varanasi

Aghori Sadhu Curse and Protection Money Demand

Individuals posing as Aghori sadhus, a genuine ascetic tradition associated with the cremation ghats at Manikarnika and Harishchandra, approach tourists and perform a brief ritual before claiming to have placed a curse or binding that can only be reversed through a cash payment ranging from 500 to 5000 rupees. The encounter is designed to exploit unfamiliarity with the tradition and the genuine awe many visitors feel at the cremation ghats.