Telangana: Volunteers washing feet of Miss World contestants triggers criticism on social media

The tradition of washing feet is limited to elders and gurus, but extending the same courtesy to beauty contestants is unwarranted, say netizens

Mulugu: Social media was abuzz on Wednesday with many criticising the officials who organised the Miss World-2025 contestants’ visit to Ramappa Temple. This was after they made local women volunteers wash and wipe the feet of the contestants.

A video clipping of volunteers washing the contestants’ feet placed in a brass plate and wiping them was shared widely on social media. Many commented that the tradition of washing the feet was limited to elders and gurus, but extending the same courtesy to beauty contestants was unwarranted.

The officials concerned should have understood the value of the tradition. Making the volunteers wash the feet of the beauty contestants has demeaned a respectful tradition, netizens commented.