New Delhi: A touching yet tense moment unfolded during a presidential award ceremony when a student, overcome by reverence, bent down to touch President Droupadi Murmu’s feet – only for a vigilant security guard to swiftly intervene, turning the scene into a viral sensation on social media.
In the widely-circulated video, the student is seen receiving a medal and certificate from the President on stage. As President Murmu graciously places the medal around his neck, the young awardee instinctively bows low in the traditional Indian gesture of seeking blessings by touching elders’ feet. Before he could fully complete the act, a guard standing behind rushes forward in an attempt to pull him back, though the student manages to touch her feet briefly.
The incident highlights the delicate balance between cultural traditions of respect and strict security protocols surrounding the nation’s highest offices, where physical contact is minimised for safety reasons. Unaware of the restrictions, the student’s innocent gesture reflects deep-rooted customs, while the guard’s prompt reaction underscores the ever-present vigilance of presidential security.
Shared initially on Instagram by the handle @success.steps, the clip has garnered lakhs of views, likes, and diverse reactions. Netizens commented variably: some praised the student’s humility, others noted, “Everyone did their duty,” and a few critiqued the guard’s timing.
Such episodes remind us of the blend of tradition and modernity in public life, sparking conversations on respect, protocol, and security in contemporary India.
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