Influencer's Guruvayur temple reel triggers 'purification' drive

Thrissur: Purification rituals (shudhi karmas) were performed at Guruvayur Shri Krishna temple in Kerala's Thrissur on Tuesday after it emerged that a vlogger named Jasmin Jaffar washed her feet in the shrine's sacred pond while making reels for social media on Aug 20.The pond, called Rudratheertham, is used for several rituals, including giving the idol of the temple's presiding deity a bath during an annual festival. Traditionally, people other than Hindus are prohibited from entering the pond or touching the water.The temple authorities said Jasmin's act of dipping her feet in the pond - she posted a video of the act, for which she has apologised - was a violation of Guruvayur Devaswom Board's code of conduct.

Devaswom administrator O B Arunkumar said recording videos next to the temple was also prohibited, except during wedding rituals and religious events.Kerala high court barred vloggers and other visitors from making reels near the temple premises while hearing a complaint about artist Jasna Salim, who has done more than 500 paintings of Krishna, recording a cake-cutting video in front of the shrine. Jasmin said she shot some reels on Aug 20 and washed her feet "out of ignorance", and without meaning to hurt anyone's feelings.The purification involved repeating morning, noon and evening rituals since Jasmin's visit all over again in one session before noon, temple sources said. Devotees weren't allowed to enter the premises.