Woman Devotes Four Years to Shrek, Thinking It Was Buddha
A woman in the Philippines spent four years worshipping an idol on her home altar. She lit incense and prayed daily with deep devotion. She believed the green statue represented Buddha. Its rounded shape and calm expression seemed sacred to her.
Friend Spots the Truth About the Statue
The woman bought the statue from a local shop in Manila. She placed it on her altar without suspicion. A visiting friend recently noticed something odd. The statue's color and facial features looked unusual.
On closer inspection, they made a surprising discovery. The idol was not Buddha at all. It was a 3D-printed figure of Shrek. Shrek is the popular cartoon character from animated films.
Online Reactions Range from Shock to Humor
The revelation shocked the woman but entertained many people online. The story went viral after the South China Morning Post reported it. Social media users shared mixed reactions.
One user commented, "This is honestly hilarious. She has gained merit, but I have just lost one point of merit."
Another person wrote about Buddhism absorbing local beliefs. They said it might not be surprising to pray to Shrek as a form of Buddha. "If there is a Buddha in your heart, then that is Buddha," they added.
A different user focused on devotion. "Devotion and faith in God come from within. So what if she worshipped Shrek? What matters is that the devotion is sincere," they stated.
Someone else posted a lighthearted take. "The moral of the story is that sometimes you need to watch cartoon films too," they joked.
Similar Viral Incident in India
In August 2025, a video went viral in India. It showed a woman worshipping a Labubu doll. She believed it was a Chinese god. Her daughter told her it was a deity.
The woman immediately placed the doll beside Hindu deities in her home shrine. She prayed with full devotion. The clip garnered over 1.3 million views online.
Social media users reacted with humor to this cultural mix-up. Many joked that almost anything could turn into a god in such contexts.
One user wrote, "What does this tell you about Indian culture? They respect every god irrespective of region, country or colour. It's only when you all start mocking our gods the issue begins."
Another person commented on how religions might start. "This is literally how religions start. Someone makes something up, others believe it, and suddenly we're all worshipping 33000 gods!" they said.
A different user defended the woman's innocence. "She is innocent…that is all there is to this video. Why mock a religion (no matter whose it is) and more specifically why mock a mother’s innocence?" they asked.
These incidents highlight how sincere devotion can sometimes lead to unexpected mix-ups. They show the playful side of cultural and religious practices in the digital age.
