Tariq Ahmed, a resident of Nowgam in Kashmir, was recently caught by the police in Guruvayoor, Kerala, after he was accused of distributing sweets in packets bearing the greetings “Id Mubarak”. The incident, which took place in the temple town, has raised concerns over how and why a non-Hindu was present in such a sensitive religious location governed by specific entry restrictions.
Tariq Ahmed from Nowgam, Kashmir, was caught while staying at Panchajanyam, the official rest house run by the Guruvayoor Devaswom Board. Located next to the sacred Guruvayoor Temple, the development has raised serious questions. How did a non-Hindu get accommodation in a temple-run hotel in one of the holiest towns in the country? Devotees often queue for hours for darshan, yet here, an individual allegedly operated freely in Dakshin Dwaraka.
The incident has triggered suspicion among devotees and observers alike. Non-Hindus are prohibited from entering the temple, and this restriction extends to temple-managed facilities such as Panchajanyam, Koustubham and Sreevalsam.
A signboard outside the temple, displayed in Malayalam, English and Tamil, clearly states: “Entry of non-Hindus in the temple is strictly prohibited”. In this backdrop, a key question remains — who approved Tariq Ahmed’s stay?
This is not the first controversy linked to non-Hindus and temple premises in Guruvayoor. In a similar case, the Kerala High Court ruled on March 19, 2025, that Abdul Haqim, accused of desecrating a Thulasithara, was not schizophrenic and must face legal action.
Abdul Haqim, a hotelier in Guruvayoor and a native of Chavakkad, had desecrated a Thulasithara — a sacred structure used for growing Tulsi — located in front of a residential flat near his restaurant.
The Court observed that Haqim, who threw his pubic hair on the Thulasithara, could not claim mental illness as a defence. The observation came while considering the bail petition of R. Sreeraj, who had been booked for sharing a video of the act on social media. The Court granted bail to Sreeraj, who was charged with “sharing the video which spreads religious animosity”.
Amid the latest developments, concerns are being voiced over the sanctity and security of Guruvayoor. Devotees have reiterated that the temple town must remain a centre of dharma, not a safe haven for elements seeking its disruption.
There are also growing calls for structural reforms, including demands that the Union Government consider measures to liberate temples across the country from state control, ensuring that temple administration remains aligned with its traditional and religious ethos.
