The video at Guruvayur Temple’s sacred pond violates centuries-old traditions, prompting temple authorities to initiate a six-day shuddhikaran ceremony
GURUVAYUR — A social media reel filmed by Jasmine Jaffar at the sacred pond of Kerala’s Guruvayur Temple has stirred controversy, attracting widespread criticism from Hindu organisations and devotees.
The incident occurred when Jasmine Jaffar, a popular Bigg Boss Malayalam contestant, stood on the steps of the temple’s pond, Rudrathirtham, while recording a video that she later uploaded on Instagram. Devotees and temple authorities expressed outrage, calling the act a violation of long-standing temple traditions.
“Filming at the sacred pond without permission is completely unacceptable,” said OB Arun Kumar, an administrator of the Guruvayur Devaswom Board. “It hurt the sentiments of devotees, and we have filed a formal complaint with the police.”
Following the incident, the temple board announced a shuddhikaran (purification) ritual to restore the sanctity of the pond and temple premises. The ceremony will run for six days, during which temple darshan will be temporarily suspended.
“The rituals are extensive,” said OB Arun Kumar. “Eighteen pujas and 18 shivellis performed over the last six days are being repeated under the guidance of the temple tantris. The expenses for these rituals will first be borne by the temple, but legally, we will recover the costs from Jasmine Jaffar.”
After the video went viral, Jasmine issued an apology and deleted the post from her social media accounts. “I did not intend to hurt anyone’s feelings,” she said. “I sincerely apologise to the devotees and the temple authorities for this mistake.”
Jasmine Jaffar is a prominent social media influencer and reality television star. She was the second runner-up of Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 6, known for her bold personality and on-screen presence. She has a strong online following, with over 1.8 lakh followers on Instagram and more than 16 lakh subscribers on YouTube, regularly sharing lifestyle and vlog content.
Her personal life has also been widely covered in the media. During her time on Bigg Boss, she faced attention for her relationships with fellow contestants and her previous engagement, which ended amid controversy.
The incident has sparked debates on social media about respecting religious sentiments and temple traditions. Many devotees expressed their anger, while some users argued that influencers should be more aware of cultural sensitivities before creating content in sacred spaces.
“This is not just a video; it is a violation of centuries-old traditions,” said a local devotee. “The temple pond is sacred, and such actions cannot be ignored. The purification rituals are necessary.”
As the shuddhikaran ceremonies continue, the temple board hopes the rituals will restore peace and uphold the sanctity of Guruvayur Temple, while setting a precedent for respecting religious spaces in Kerala.
