Bengaluru Temple Decides To Ban Weddings As Priests Say They’re ‘Fed Up’ With Rising Divorce Cases
A historic temple in Bengaluru has taken an unusual step by putting a complete stop to wedding ceremonies on its premises, citing repeated legal troubles linked to failed marriages. The decision came into public view after a man approached the Karnataka Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), claiming that temple authorities had refused to conduct his wedding. When the CMO sought an explanation, the priests responded with a clear reason they did not want to keep making rounds of courtrooms once marriages ended in divorce.
The move was taken by the management of the centuries-old Halasuru Someshwara Swamy Temple, one of Bengaluru’s most prominent heritage and religious sites. Long known as a popular destination for traditional weddings, the temple has now drawn a line, saying the growing number of post-marriage disputes has made hosting weddings risky and burdensome.
According to a report by The Indian Express, temple authorities revealed that courts frequently direct priests to appear during divorce cases to verify details related to weddings conducted at the temple. Explaining the situation, V Govindaraju, the chief administrative officer of the temple committee, said, “Many couples elope from home and produce fake documents to get married. After a few days, the parents of these couples turn up, and in some instances, court cases are filed."
The temple management shared that nearly 100–150 weddings were being conducted at the shrine before the practice was discontinued around six to seven years ago. The decision, they said, was taken to prevent any “untoward incident” and to protect the reputation of the temple, which comes under the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department of the Karnataka government.
While wedding ceremonies have been suspended, the temple continues to conduct all other religious rituals and customary services as usual. Authorities have also clarified that the wedding ban may be revisited in the future, but for now, no marriage ceremonies will be allowed on the premises.
The announcement has triggered a lively reaction online. One user questioned the legal logic behind the move, writing, “Why would priests be called in a divorce case? Even if you are married in a temple, your marriage certificate is issued by a local governing body. We haven’t heard of this phenomenon anywhere else."
Others saw the decision as a reflection of changing times. “It’s hardly a comedy show, but even priests are fed up with how fast marriages are collapsing under today’s divorce rate," another commented. Supporting the temple’s stand, a user added, “A temple is a sacred place and an abode of the presiding deity. It should not be reduced to a ‘Kalyana Mandapam’ just to accommodate some devotees.”
Another netizen summed up the confusion bluntly, asking,“First of all, why is Temple involved in divorce cases? It looks bogus. If I get married in a function hall, nobody is going to the marriage function hall owner for getting divorced, so how will a temple get entangled here legally?"
As opinions remain divided, the temple’s decision has reignited a larger conversation about the role of religious institutions in modern marriages — and where spiritual responsibility should end.
The move was taken by the management of the centuries-old Halasuru Someshwara Swamy Temple, one of Bengaluru’s most prominent heritage and religious sites. Long known as a popular destination for traditional weddings, the temple has now drawn a line, saying the growing number of post-marriage disputes has made hosting weddings risky and burdensome.
According to a report by The Indian Express, temple authorities revealed that courts frequently direct priests to appear during divorce cases to verify details related to weddings conducted at the temple. Explaining the situation, V Govindaraju, the chief administrative officer of the temple committee, said, “Many couples elope from home and produce fake documents to get married. After a few days, the parents of these couples turn up, and in some instances, court cases are filed."
The temple management shared that nearly 100–150 weddings were being conducted at the shrine before the practice was discontinued around six to seven years ago. The decision, they said, was taken to prevent any “untoward incident” and to protect the reputation of the temple, which comes under the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department of the Karnataka government.
While wedding ceremonies have been suspended, the temple continues to conduct all other religious rituals and customary services as usual. Authorities have also clarified that the wedding ban may be revisited in the future, but for now, no marriage ceremonies will be allowed on the premises.
The announcement has triggered a lively reaction online. One user questioned the legal logic behind the move, writing, “Why would priests be called in a divorce case? Even if you are married in a temple, your marriage certificate is issued by a local governing body. We haven’t heard of this phenomenon anywhere else."
Others saw the decision as a reflection of changing times. “It’s hardly a comedy show, but even priests are fed up with how fast marriages are collapsing under today’s divorce rate," another commented. Supporting the temple’s stand, a user added, “A temple is a sacred place and an abode of the presiding deity. It should not be reduced to a ‘Kalyana Mandapam’ just to accommodate some devotees.”
Another netizen summed up the confusion bluntly, asking,“First of all, why is Temple involved in divorce cases? It looks bogus. If I get married in a function hall, nobody is going to the marriage function hall owner for getting divorced, so how will a temple get entangled here legally?"
As opinions remain divided, the temple’s decision has reignited a larger conversation about the role of religious institutions in modern marriages — and where spiritual responsibility should end.
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