A travel vlogger from Kerala, Maheen Shah Jahan, has come under fire after his recent video from a temple visit went viral. The video shows him entering a Hindu temple in Kerala with four foreign women and applying sindoor (vermilion) on their foreheads. This act, although seemingly innocent to him, has upset many people on social media who believe it disrespects Hindu customs.
In Hindu culture, sindoor holds religious importance and is worn by married women as a sign of their marital status. The video sparked sharp criticism, with many users labelling it a mockery of Hindu traditions. Some users questioned how Maheen could be allowed to do such an act without understanding its significance.
Social Media Reacts Strongly to Vlogger’s Action
Maheen originally shared the video on 25 May 2025. In his caption, he wrote about religious harmony in Kerala and said that faith is not a barrier. He highlighted how he, as a Muslim, felt welcomed and peaceful in the temple environment. But his action of applying sindoor on the foreign women did not go well with several netizens.
The video is no longer available on his profile, but users across platforms like X (formerly Twitter) are resharing it and reacting strongly. One user wrote, “How can a Muslim boy apply sindoor in a temple on a foreign women? They don’t even know what it means. This is insulting.” Another user commented that Maheen’s act looked like a move just to gain attention on social media.
Vlogger Issues Clarification After Backlash
After the video started trending and the criticism increased, Maheen responded in an interview with Brut India. He said that he did not intend to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments. Maheen admitted he was aware that sindoor is used by married women, but he didn’t know that it was such a deeply sacred act.
He also said, “If I had known the full importance of sindoor in Hindu marriages, I would not have done it.” Maheen added that none of the foreign women who were with him objected to the act, and he always tries to respect all religions in his content.
Post Sparks Debate on Religious Symbols and Intentions
The situation has now turned into a larger discussion on the use of religious symbols by influencers for content. While some people feel that Maheen’s act was an honest mistake, others believe that such actions should not be done without understanding the culture and tradition behind them.
Although Maheen apologised, the incident has left many asking whether religious symbols are being used lightly for the sake of viral content.
Disclaimer: This report is based on publicly available information and media coverage. We do not support or encourage actions that may offend any religion or belief system.
Source: TV9 Hindi, Brut India, X (Twitter)
