Thrissur: The Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple in Kerala will conduct a special purification ritual on Tuesday after social media influencer and former Bigg Boss contestant Jasmin Jaffer, a non-Hindu, filmed a reel washing her feet at the temple pond—an act that goes against the temple’s customs.
Temple authorities announced that the punyahakarma (purification ritual) will be performed at the pond, with public darshan and entry to the inner sanctum (nalambalam) restricted from 5 a.m. until noon. The ritual will include a repeat of six days’ worth of pujas, comprising 18 pujas and 18 sheevelis (processions), to restore the sanctity of the premises.
The incident occurred six days ago when Jaffer posted the video on social media. After it drew backlash, she deleted the reel and issued a public apology, stating she was unaware of the temple’s restrictions regarding non-Hindu entry and conduct within its premises.
In response, the Guruvayur Devaswom lodged a complaint with local police, noting that the temple pond is strictly off-limits to non-Hindus. Police informed the court that a case would be registered following judicial direction.
The temple administration has urged devotees to cooperate during the period of restricted access and emphasized the importance of respecting temple traditions.
This is not the first time such an issue has arisen. Earlier this year, a complaint was filed against BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar for allegedly filming reels within restricted areas of the temple, in violation of a High Court directive banning videography in certain sections of the temple complex.
