A video depicting women from Telangana washing the feet of Miss World 2025 contestants ahead of their temple visit has ignited a storm of controversy, sparking outrage and accusations of racism and a "colonial mindset". The incident occurred at the ancient Ramappa Temple in Mulugu district, a UNESCO World Heritage site, during the contestants' tour of Telangana as part of the lead-up to the Miss World finale scheduled for May 31st.
The footage shows women, believed to be local volunteers, assisting the beauty pageant contestants in washing their feet and drying them with towels. This act has been met with severe criticism from opposition parties, including the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who have condemned it as an insult to the self-respect and dignity of Telangana women.
BRS leaders have alleged that Dalit, tribal, and economically disadvantaged women were forced to participate in the ritual. They further appealed to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to intervene and address the public discontent, asserting that the incident has tarnished the state's honor. "The Congress government has stripped the honor of the daughters of the state. This incident has not only shamed Telangana but has also tarnished the dignity of Indian women before the world," stated a BRS representative.
Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, who also serves as the state BJP president, described the act as humiliating and reminiscent of a colonial-era mindset. He criticized the Congress government for the display of "servility" and further objected to the ritual being performed within the sacred space of the Ramappa Temple, near areas revered by tribal deities Sammakka and Saralamma.
Social media has also been flooded with reactions, with many users expressing their disgust and labeling the act as "racist" and a manifestation of India's "colonial hangover". One X user described it as a "disgusting activity" and an "out and out casteist and racist program". However, some social media users pointed out that most contestants appeared to be washing their own feet, with the local women simply assisting them.
In response to the backlash, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister D Anasuya defended the practice, stating that it is customary to wash feet before entering a temple. She added that plates were provided to avoid making the premises slushy, and that a member of the event management company poured water on the contestants' feet and offered them towels. The state government also released a statement, asserting that the act was in line with the "Atithi Devo Bhava" tradition, which honors international guests. "This is a tradition we follow in accordance with the dictum 'Atithi Devo Bhava' by which we offer our international guests the highest honour," the government stated.
