Hyderabad: Ever since Telangana announced the hosting of Miss World 2025, it triggered a political row with the Opposition slamming the Congress-ruled state government regarding public spending priorities.
Now, a fresh controversy has hit the global pageant at a time when participants from 120 countries are already in India taking part in various events leading to the grand finale on May 31.
A video showing local Telangana women assisting Miss World contestants to wash their feet at a temple has sparked a political row, with BJP and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) accusing the Congress government of insulting dignity of Indian women and reviving colonial-era attitudes.
The video, filmed at historic Ramappa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, shows women, described as volunteers, helping contestants rinse their feet and patting them dry with towels.
Watch the video clips shared by users on X:
Volunteers were tasked with washing and wiping the feet of the contestants.
The 72nd Miss World contestants during visits #RamappaTemple and #1000PillarTemple of 12th century in Telangana, washed their feet before entering, a common practice in #temple entry #rituals. pic.twitter.com/4vzu2s2w1g
— Dilip kumar (@PDilip_kumar) May 15, 2025
The Miss World organisation described the ritual as part of a traditional purification practice before entering sacred temple grounds.
“Before entering the sacred temple grounds, the contestants observed a traditional ritual of washing their feet, symbolizing purification and respect. This age-old custom is practised to cleanse the physical and spiritual self, preparing for a moment of connection with the divine. It was a beautiful gesture that underscored the deep-rooted spirituality of the region,” read the official Instagram post of Miss World.
The political reactions to the video, however, were scathing.
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BRS condemned CM Revanth Reddy and the state government, calling the act “a disgraceful and humiliating spectacle” that struck at the very core of Telangana’s self-respect.
Senior BRS female leaders such as former ministers Sabitha Indra Reddy, Satyavati Rathod, Sunita Laxma Reddy and MLA Kova Laxmi wrote to Sonia Gandhi demanding an unconditional apology.
Their allegation was that Dalit, tribal and economically vulnerable women were “forced” to perform these acts of service, calling it a betrayal of the ideals on which the Telangana statehood movement was built. “Reducing Telangana’s daughters to mere props for a publicity stunt is unacceptable,” the letter said, warning that such actions, if left unaddressed, could alienate the 4 crore people of the state, especially its women.
The BJP said the incident was symptomatic of a deeper malaise in Congress’ mindset. “In a shocking display of servility, the Telangana Congress government made local women wash and wipe the feet of Miss World contestants, a humiliating act that reeks of colonial-era mindset,” Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy said in a post on X.
He also highlighted the ritual being performed near sacred spaces, including areas dedicated to tribal deities Sammakka and Saralamma. Holding the Congress high command equally responsible, BJP demanded that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi should apologise for “blasphemy” and the “surrender” of Indian culture and Nari Shakti (woman power).
