Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's visit to the famous Hasanamba temple in the Hassan district sparked an outrage among devotees on Sunday, 8 November 2026, with many throwing slippers and footwear at the television screen that was displaying his visuals. Several videos of the incident have gone viral on social media, and the episode was reported on 9 November 2026.
What happened at the temple
Shivakumar visited the temple to seek blessings for Diwali. Devotees who had come for darshan were forced to wait in queue for hours while the Chief Minister's visit was on, according to reports of the incident. Angry devotees expressed their frustration by throwing slippers and footwear at the LED screen that was displaying his visuals. The videos show devotees hurling footwear at the screen as the Chief Minister's visit was telecast.
The videos go viral
Several videos of the incident have gone viral on social media, showing the devotees expressing their anger and throwing their footwear on the TV screen. The clips have been widely shared, with users debating the VIP treatment given to political leaders at temples. The incident has become the latest flashpoint in the debate over VIP darshan at temples, where ordinary devotees often wait for hours while leaders are given priority access.
A recurring debate over VIP darshan
The Hasanamba temple in Hassan is one of Karnataka's most famous temples, and it draws large crowds during festivals. The VIP darshan row is a recurring issue at major temples, where devotees complain that political leaders and VIPs jump the queue while ordinary visitors wait for hours. Shivakumar's visit, which was meant to be a routine Diwali blessing, has now turned into a political controversy because of the devotees' reaction. The Chief Minister's office had not issued a detailed response to the incident at the time of reporting.
What is known and what is not
What is confirmed is that devotees threw footwear at a screen showing the Chief Minister's visuals, that the incident happened during his visit on Sunday, and that videos of it have gone viral. The exact number of devotees involved and the duration of the queue have not been officially confirmed, and the reports do not say whether any devotee was detained.
