Mumbai: Devotees at a small temple in the Chembur area of Mumbai were stunned when they entered the sanctum this Sunday and found the idol of Kali Mata dressed not in her customary attire, but garbed in golden robes with a large crown — the figure resembled Mother Mary. The idol’s face, normally depicted in deep tones, had been painted white, and she was shown holding a child-figure, which many interpreted as representing Baby Jesus. Adding to the shock, the shrine’s backdrop had been altered: a red cloth draped behind bore a large golden cross, while fairy lights and tinsel framed the décor, giving the sanctum a starkly Christian appearance.
Soon after the video and images from the temple began circulating on social media, outrage spread among devotees and local residents. The altercation triggered heated protests and demands for a swift response from authorities.
Responding to the uproar, officers from the RCF Police Station rushed to the temple. When questioned, the temple priest — identified as Ramesh Yogeshwar — said the goddess had appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to “adorn her in the form of Mother Mary.” According to police reports, a case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for hurting the religious sentiments of a community.
Ramesh was arrested and produced before a local court, which remanded him to two days of police custody. Authorities have since seized the attire and restored the idol to its original state under supervision, aiming to prevent further communal tension.
As investigation begins, police officials say they are examining whether the act was an isolated impulse by the priest — motivated by what he claimed to be a dream — or part of a wider plan involving others. The incident has reignited deep concerns across the community about respect for religious symbols and the need for vigilance against provocative acts that can inflame public sentiment.
