KALABURAGI: A fresh flashpoint has emerged in Kalaburagi after Hindu organisations carried out a “purification” ritual at the historic Ramateerth Shiva Temple, alleging that Muslim youths had decorated the Shivaling during Mahashivaratri celebrations.
The controversy began after videos surfaced on social media showing Muslim flower traders decorating the temple premises as part of Mahashivaratri festivities. The clips quickly went viral, triggering sharp reactions from several Hindu groups who accused the temple trust of allowing “religious transgression.”
On Sunday, activists belonging to Hindu organisations assembled at the temple and performed what they described as a purification ceremony. The Shiva Linga was ritually cleansed with gomutra before priests conducted fresh prayers in accordance with Vedic customs. Slogans were raised condemning the temple management, and memorandums were submitted seeking accountability.
Leaders of a local Hindu outfit said the act of purification was necessary to “restore sanctity.” “This is not about individuals but about preserving age-old traditions. The temple trust should not have permitted members of another faith to handle sacred rituals,” one activist said during the protest.
The Ramateerth temple, considered one of the oldest shrines in the region, holds deep cultural and religious significance. According to local belief, Bhagwan Ram consecrated the Shivaling here, adding to its spiritual importance among devotees across the district.
Interestingly, local sources confirmed that Muslim flower traders have been supplying and arranging floral decorations at the temple during Mahashivaratri for several years. However, Hindu activists claimed they were unaware of the practice until this year. “If this has been happening in the past, it only reflects administrative negligence. We will not allow such incidents to continue,” another protester asserted.
The temple trust has so far maintained a cautious stance. Members indicated informally that floral decorations are typically outsourced to vendors regardless of religious identity and that no religious rituals were performed by the workers. “They were only doing decorative work as flower suppliers, not conducting any puja ,” a source associated with the trust clarified.
The incident comes close on the heels of other sensitive religious disputes in the region, including recent tensions surrounding worship-related claims at a dargah in Aland. Observers note that Kalaburagi has witnessed a series of religion-linked controversies in recent months, keeping law enforcement agencies on alert.
Police personnel were deployed around the Ramateerth temple to prevent escalation and ensure peace. Senior officers appealed for calm and warned against the spread of inflammatory content on social media. “We request citizens not to believe in rumours. Strict action will be taken against anyone attempting to disturb communal harmony,” a police official stated.
Despite the purification ritual being completed without violence, the episode has once again exposed fragile inter-community sensitivities in the region. Civic leaders and social activists have urged both sides to exercise restraint and prioritise harmony over provocation.
