Halasuru Someshwara Temple Wedding Ban: Priests ‘Fed Up’ With Divorce-Related Court Summons
The centuries-old Halasuru Someshwara Swamy Temple, one of Bengaluru’s most revered heritage temples, has once again come into the spotlight – this time because of its long-standing ban on conducting weddings.
Although the restriction has been in place for six to seven years, it recently resurfaced after a man complained to the Karnataka Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), claiming the temple refused to conduct his marriage.
Why the Temple Banned Weddings
According to temple authorities, the ban was introduced to protect the temple’s sanctity and to avoid being entangled in legal disputes linked to divorces.
Priests revealed a surprising reason: they were frequently summoned to court as witnesses in divorce cases of couples who had married at the temple.
The temple’s chief administrative officer, V. Govindaraju, noted:
- Many couples eloped and furnished fake documents during weddings.
- When the marriages collapsed, parents or one of the partners often dragged the temple into legal disputes.
- Courts would issue notices asking priests to appear during divorce hearings.
Before the ban, the temple conducted around 100–150 weddings, but with the rising number of legal complications, the management decided to halt the practice to protect the temple’s reputation.
Temple Still Performs Other Rituals
While wedding ceremonies have been suspended, the temple continues all other daily poojas, sevas, and religious rituals. Authorities added that the policy may be reviewed in the future, but for now, the no-wedding rule remains firmly in place.
Mixed Reactions Online
The temple’s explanation triggered a lively debate on social media:
- Many users questioned why priests should be involved in divorce cases when legal marriage certificates are issued by civic authorities – not temples.
- Others felt the temple was right not to turn a sacred place into a “Kalyana Mandapam.”
- Some expressed disbelief, likening the situation to “comedy,” while others sympathized with priests being burdened by rising divorce rates.
A Debate About Tradition and Accountability
The incident has opened up a broader conversation around:
- The responsibilities of religious institutions
- The legal status of temple weddings
- How modern relationship issues intersect with traditional marriage ceremonies
For now, anyone looking for a Halasuru Someshwara Temple wedding will have to settle for seeking blessings – not tying the knot – within the ancient shrine.
