‘Disgusting': Miss World 2025 contestants' feet washed by Telangana women, viral video sparks debate

The 72nd Miss World contest kicked off in a glittering ceremony at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad. Contestants from around 120 countries visited Telangana's most iconic temples – the Ramappa temple in Mulugu district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Thousand Pillar Temple in Warangal. One of the videos showing Telangana women washing the feet of the contestant has caught the Internet's attention, sparking a debate over 'colonialism.'
The viral video shows the contestants dressed to the nines in stunning sarees, wearing bangles, gajra, bindi, and other Indian accessories, and having water poured onto their feet over brass plates. As the video progresses, Indian women volunteers are handed over towels to dab them outside the Ramappa temple.
Sharing the clip, an X user, Sumit Jha, condemned it, calling it a 'colonial hangover'.
'India may be free, but the colonial hangover still is there. In Telangana, women washing Miss World contestants' feet wasn't tradition—it was a masterclass in colonial hangover and white worship. All in the name of 'culture',' he wrote.
Watch the video here:
India may be free, but colonial hangover still is there.
In Telangana, women washing Miss World contestants' feet wasn't tradition—it was a masterclass in colonial hangover and white worship. All in the name of 'culture'. pic.twitter.com/z5mr5861Zo
— Sumit Jha (@sumitjha__) May 14, 2025
The video went viral in no time, sparking a debate over the tradition. 'It's part of our Telugu people culture, to give water with our own hands, for guests. If you don't like our guest culture you can go to north india … even lord Krishna, washed feet of sudama, his friend & guest,' a user wrote. 'I think they only instructed to wash feet before entering the temple,' another user commented.
'These women are washing nicely pedicured feet. This is nothing but mockery of the ancient practice of washing feet after long travel for hygienic reasons,' a third user reacted.
The Miss World Grand Finale will also be held at HITEX, Hyderabad, on May 31. The last edition of the Miss World Pageant was also held in India in Mumbai. Krystyna Pyszkova from the Czech Republic was crowned Miss World 2024. This year, Nandini Gupta will represent India in the contest. Manushi Chhillar was the last Indian contestant to win the crown in 2017.

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