Lord Ganesha idol desecrated and vandalised during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh
Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, India 
15 September, 2026
Case Summary
In Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, a revered statue of Lord Ganesha installed at a roadside pandal for the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration was vandalised and broken by a group of youths. The incident took place near the Higher Secondary School on the Tikamgarh-Jatara Road. According to media reports, at approximately 9:00 PM on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, some drunk youths threw the Ganesha idol from the pandal and broke it. Residents identified the accused as Prakash Ahirwar, Manoj Ahirwar and Bhagchand Ahirwar, all residents of Mabai village. Villagers also stated that the accused assaulted the devotees present at the pandal. Following the incident, tension spread across the village and a large number of people gathered at the site. Residents informed Dial 112, after which police from the rural police station arrived and brought the situation under control. Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Rahul Katre said that the matter was under investigation. Police questioned members of the Ganesh Chaturthi committee and residents about the incident and said they would take legal action after the investigation. Police were deployed in the village to maintain peace, while senior officials were also informed about the incident.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The primary category selected in this case is: Attack on Hindu religious representations. The subcategory selected is: Desecration of Hindu religious symbol. Icons and symbols, or religious representations of a spiritual ideal, are widely revered in Hinduism. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika, for example. Since these Hindu religious symbols hold paramount importance in Hinduism, any desecration of symbols, icons, murtis, religious representations and manifestations is driven by animosity towards the faith itself, which manifests itself through these murtis, icons and symbols. Therefore, any desecration of these Hindu religious symbols and representations is considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. This case was added to the Hinduphobia Tracker because a consecrated Lord Ganesha idol installed for worship during Ganesh Chaturthi was thrown from the pandal and broken. The act directly targeted a sacred representation of a Hindu deity and resulted in the desecration of an object that had been installed for Hindu religious worship and celebration. The timing of the incident further heightened its religious significance. Ganesh Chaturthi is an annual Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha and is observed once every year through the installation, worship and celebration of Ganesha murtis in homes and public pandals. Devotees gather for prayers, rituals and community celebrations during this period. The idol targeted in this incident had been specifically installed in a public pandal as part of these Ganesh Chaturthi observances. In Hinduism, a murti installed and worshipped through religious rituals is not regarded as an ordinary statue or decorative object. It serves as a sacred focus of devotion and worship. Lord Ganesha is one of the most widely revered Hindu deities and is associated with auspicious beginnings, wisdom and the removal of obstacles. Throwing the Ganesha idol from its pandal and breaking it therefore amounted to desecration of a sacred Hindu representation. Such an act violated the sanctity attached to the murti and directly hurt devotees' religious sentiments. Overall, the deliberate vandalisation and breaking of a Ganesha idol installed for Ganesh Chaturthi constituted an attack on a sacred Hindu religious representation. Since this incident exemplifies an intentional effort to insult religious sentiments, it has been added to the Hinduphobia Tracker as an instance involving the desecration of a Hindu deity and the violation of the sanctity of Hindu worship.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
