Kochi/Malappuram: The Vishu advertisement controversy continues to widen, with fresh posters from restaurants surfacing on social media, drawing renewed attention and reactions. Two new visuals, linked to My Raydan Restaurant and Arabian Majlis, have now come under discussion for depicting Bhagwan Krishna in close association with non-vegetarian dishes as part of Vishu greetings. The first image, attributed to My Raydan Restaurant, shows a blue-skinned hand styled to resemble Bhagwan Krishna picking up a piece of cooked chicken from a plate of biryani. The visual is presented against a festive Vishu backdrop with flowers and traditional elements, alongside branding details of the restaurant.
The second image, associated with Arabian Majlis, depicts a child-like representation of Bhagwan Krishna seated at a dining table, appearing to eat from a plate that includes a meat-based dish. The setting includes a Vishu Kani-like arrangement placed beside the figure, featuring fruits and traditional elements. Both images were shared as part of Vishu promotional campaigns and circulated widely across social media platforms. As with earlier incidents, screenshots of these visuals continued to spread even as discussions intensified online. My Raydan Restaurant operates in locations including Edakkara and Vazhkadavu in Malappuram district. Arabian Majlis has a wide network of outlets across Kerala, such as Feroke, Koduvally, Kondotty, Kottakkal, Saradamandiram, Tanur, Tirurangadi, Atholi, Cherpulassery, and Edakkara, and also in Gulf cities including Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.
Series of Incidents Across Keralam and Beyond
These developments come in the backdrop of a series of similar controversies reported over the past few days. In Cherthala, Alappuzha, Meher Mandi & Grills released a Vishu advertisement depicting Bhagwan Krishna alongside a biryani platter with fried chicken, which led to protests and police action. The Cherthala police registered a case under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an individual named Arshad was taken into custody as part of the investigation.
In Malappuram’s Angadipuram, Yamama Shawaya Hotel, located near Poradam Bridge, shared a Vishu-themed image showing a child-like Krishna seated in front of a meat dish. The post was later deleted, but it had already circulated widely. The Mankada police arrested three individuals, Mustafa, Shahul Hameed, and Muhammed Shahil, and seized electronic devices used in creating and sharing the content. A case was registered on charges related to promoting communal disharmony.
In Ernakulam district, a separate image linked to a shop named First Step on Kalathilparambil Cross Road showed slippers placed within a Vishu Kani-like arrangement, further adding to the controversy. The issue also extended beyond Keralam, with a Vishu poster from Nadawi Mandi Restaurant in Bengaluru, depicting a child-like Krishna holding a piece of meat beside a mandi platter. The post was later removed from social media following backlash.
With multiple visuals now emerging from different establishments across regions, the Vishu advertisement row has evolved into a wider and continuing public controversy, drawing attention to the use of religious imagery in festive promotions and the responses it generates.
