Overview

• Manik Ali’s divorce was formally finalized last week and he marked his newfound freedom on July 13 by bathing in about 40 litres of milk outside his home in Baraliyapar village in Assam.
• Ali said his wife had eloped with her lover twice and his decision to pursue divorce followed failed attempts to preserve the marriage for their daughter.
• The video of Ali’s milk bath, shared on Instagram and X, has attracted over three million views across social media platforms.
• Online reactions have been mixed, with some users congratulating his emotional release and others criticizing the wasteful use of milk.
• Observers note that this spectacle reflects a growing culture of public divorce ceremonies in India and highlights milk’s symbolic role in ritual purification.