Three held over Vishu poster row in Kerala, religious groups call It ‘deeply offensive’

Three persons were arrested in Kerala’s Malappuram district after a Vishu promotional poster by a local restaurant sparked outrage for depicting Lord Krishna alongside a non-vegetarian dish.

The controversy erupted after the restaurant shared a festive greeting on Vishu featuring ‘kuzhi mandi’, an Arabian meat-based dish, with the caption “Serving the prosperity of taste.” The post drew sharp criticism from sections of the Hindu community, who termed it disrespectful to religious sentiments.

Police said a case was registered suo motu under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, citing concerns that the content could provoke unrest. The restaurant owners and the social media handler were summoned, arrested, and later released on bail.

Leaders of local Hindu organisations condemned the poster, saying it “hurt the sentiments of devotees” and showed “a lack of sensitivity towards sacred beliefs.” A representative of a temple committee in the area said associating Lord Krishna with a meat dish during a festival “crosses a line of cultural respect and devotion.”

Some community members also called for stricter oversight of commercial promotions using religious imagery. “Festivals like Vishu carry deep spiritual meaning. Such portrayals reduce them to marketing gimmicks and can create unnecessary tension,” a devotee said.

Following the backlash, the restaurant removed the post and expressed regret, police added.

Officials noted that a similar incident had recently been reported in another part of Kerala, underlining growing scrutiny over content that intersects religion and advertising.