Padukone gave birth to a daughter in September and the couple shared a picture of her online on the festival of Diwali, considered an auspicious day by the Hindus.
The post on Instagram featured just the baby’s feet. The caption read: “Dua Padukone Singh. ‘Dua’: meaning a Prayer. Because She is the Answer to our Prayers. Our hearts are filled with Love & Gratitude.”
The word “dua” comes from Arabic and means “prayer” or “supplication”. In Islam, dua refers to a prayer of invocation to seek help from God and is treated as a form of worship.
Shortly after the post went online, the couple were inundated with criticism of the name, with many questioning the use of a word associated with Islam as opposed to one associated with Hinduism.
“Why not prarthana and why duaa??? Why not hindi but urdu??” commented one user.
Another said: “Just for your information (Prathna Means “Prayer”) I hope you might know these words also, as you are a Sanatani. By name, but as personal you are ????”
Padukone and Singh are Hindu. Singh said in a past interview that his paternal grandfather was Sikh.
The couple had a traditional Hindu ceremony as well as a Sikh ceremony called Anand Karaj when they got married as a nod to their roots.
Several commentators, though, questioned the “absurd” reaction to the naming of their child.
“Why are you pressed over a child’s name that isn’t yours???” one asked.
