A state of controversy has been raised on social media platforms during the past two days due to the circulation of a video of two Muslim players in the Indian cricket team, who refuse to obtain a red dye for the forehead associated with the Hindu faith.

The aforementioned video spread like wildfire across Indian cyberspace, garnering nearly two million views within hours, and members of the India national cricket team appear from inside a hotel where they are staying in preparation for their upcoming confrontation with Australia this month.

As the team members were passing by, a woman from the hotel's reception team was offering them the Hindu tilak, or tilak, to apply to their foreheads;

However, the two Muslim players, Muhammad Siraj and Imran Malik, apologized for that.

मोहम्मद सिराग

pic.twitter.com/lGwCWxu3xx

- Yogi Devnath 🇮🇳 (@YogiDevnath2) February 3, 2023

According to the Indian newspaper "Times of India";

There is a common belief among Hindus that the "tika" or the red dot on the forehead is like a vaccine that preserves positive energy within the body and prevents it from receiving a large amount of negative spiritual energy.

A large number of Hindu right-wing activists objected to Muhammad Siraj and Imran Malik's avoidance of conforming to the Hindu tradition, as prominent Hindu activist Yogi Devance wrote, "Siraj and Malik did not get the vaccine because they are very fanatical about their religion even after reaching this stage in their lives."

And the right-wing Hindu journalist, Suresh Chavhnki, attacked the two Muslim players, saying, "They are players in the Indian national team, not Pakistan, even after they became international cricket players, as they are loyal to their religion."

While the famous Indian verification journalist Muhammad Zubair indicated, by publishing a number of photos of other members of the team on the same occasion, that coach Vikram Rathore and player Hari Prasad Mohan - who are not Muslims - also refused to obtain "tilak / tika".

Vikram Rathour & Hari Prasad Mohan didn't apply tilak too.

But @SureshChavhanke & other Right wing accounts want you to focus Muslim players Umran Malik & Mohammed Siraj.

https://t.co/twbMex2j4o pic.twitter.com/U96VSDp4bp

- Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) February 3, 2023

On the other hand;

A large number of interactions supporting what the two players did and denouncing the responses of figures from the Hindu right emerged to the avoidance of two Muslim players from a religious tradition that is inconsistent with their faith.

The official spokesman for the Indian Peace Party, Shaddab Choban, responded to the criticism directed at the Muslim players, saying, "We are proud of our Indian lions who make the country proud in the middle of the world, and they are proud of being Indians, and even if they are Muslims, they do not insult any religion, but what they did is nothing but respect." their religion.”

Hotels need to stop this silly tradition.

European hotels do not sprinkle holy water on you when you enter, nor do middle eastern hotels make you wear a hijab.

We treat religion and personal space so casually in India.

We are not entering a Mandir!!!

https://t.co/4o9z2DWGzf

- Seetu Mahajan Kohli (@kohliseetu) February 4, 2023

Indian blogger Setu Mahajan Kohli criticized the hotel management for insisting on following this ritual, saying, "Hotels need to stop this ridiculous tradition. European hotels do not spray holy water on you when you enter, and a Middle Eastern hotel does not make you wear a veil. We deal with religion and personal space in a way unprofessional.”