{
  "id": 7087464,
  "title": "Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev's 'Ayurvedic Hookah' sparks memefest online; here's all you need to know",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/yoga-guru-baba-ramdevs-ayurvedic-hookah-sparks-memefest-online-heres",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-13T09:37:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/trends/yoga-guru-baba-ramdevs-ayurvedic-hookah-sparks-memefest-online-heres-all-you-need-to-know-11789289604869.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Social media users were abuzz after a video allegedly showed Baba Ramdev, the renowned yoga guru, endorsing a hookah with a twist. The clip, shared on Ramdev's Instagram account, displayed him preparing the device alongside a woman. The \"Ayurvedic Hookah,\" as it was referred to, featured a blend of herbs and traditional ingredients such as mulethi (liquorice), turmeric, mustard seeds, carom seeds, camphor, and kakda singi. Ramdev explained the preparation process, asserting that the device contained all the necessary herbs. He then ignited camphor on a fire as part of the process and suggested the woman inhale the smoke, claiming it could balance the three doshas in Ayurveda and provide relief from issues like cough and nasal congestion. The video quickly gained traction online, prompting various reactions. Some users joked about the idea of giving traditional smoking an Ayurvedic twist, while others drew historical parallels, noting that smoking was once considered a treatment in ancient India. However, a few users criticized the \"Ayurvedic Hookah,\" questioning its legitimacy and wondering about the day when herbal alcohol might also be available. It's important to note that this particular \"Ayurvedic Hookah\" is not officially available for sale, and neither Baba Ramdev nor his company, Patanjali, have commented on the viral video or the claims made about its health benefits. The video has sparked a broader discussion online about using traditional ingredients in smoking devices and whether such practices can be considered a healthier alternative to conventional hookahs.",
  "summary": "A video of Baba Ramdev demonstrating an “Ayurvedic Hookah” has sparked reactions online. The hookah uses ingredients including mulethi, turmeric, mustard seeds, carom seeds, camphor and kakda singi, with Ramdev claiming it may help with certain health complaints.",
  "key_points": [
    "Baba Ramdev endorsed an Ayurvedic hookah with a blend of herbs in a viral Instagram video.",
    "The hookah, called Ayurvedic Hookah, contained ingredients like mulethi, turmeric, and camphor."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The viral video of Baba Ramdev endorsing an Ayurvedic hookah sparks debate on rebranding traditional smoking practices as a healthier alternative, with users questioning legitimacy and historical accuracy.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}