Goddess Durga temple defiled during Navratri; eggs hurled at temple premises by unknown miscreants in Hyderabad, Telangana
Hyderabad, Telangana, India 
14 October, 2026
Case Summary
In Ayodhya Nagar, Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad, Telangana, the Sri Kanaka Durga Ammavari Temple, a sacred Hindu place of worship dedicated to Goddess Durga, was desecrated during Navratri when unidentified persons threw eggs at the temple premises, including its tower (gopuram). Eggs were found at several locations within the temple, and women devotees participating in the Navratri prayers were also hit by eggs. The incident occurred while Navratri puja was being performed at the temple. The incident took place on the evening of 15 October 2026, approximately between 7:00 pm and 8:30 pm, when Navratri prayers were under way at the temple. The temple management stated that some women devotees who were hit by eggs were unable to disclose the incident at the time because of fear. The following day, police were informed about the incident, and subsequently tensions escalated in the locality. As the news of the incident spread across the area, a large number of devotees and representatives of Hindu organisations gathered at the temple and staged protests. The demonstrators raised slogans including “Jai Shri Ram”. The Sri Kanaka Durga Seva Samithi (temple committee) called upon the Hindu community to condemn the incident and appealed to organisations such as the Bajrang Dal and the Vishva Hindu Parishad to extend their support. Devotees expressed distress over the incident, which occurred during the sacred days of Navratri. Following the complaint lodged by the temple committee, a case was registered at Gudimalkapur Police Station. Police personnel, including the Station House Officer (SHO), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) V. Tirupati of Kulsumpura, and other police officials, visited the temple, inspected the premises and reviewed the situation. The police also spoke to members of the temple committee, including its secretary, to obtain details about the incident. A substantial police presence was deployed at the temple following the incident and the ensuing protests. During the preliminary examination, ACP V. Tirupati revealed that the CCTV footage indicated that unidentified persons had thrown eggs from outside the temple. Police officials described the act as unacceptable and stated that those responsible would be identified and subjected to strict legal action. ACP V. Tirupati described such acts against a sacred place of worship as unforgivable and assured the public that the suspects would be identified soon and punished strictly. Following the incident, the police urged temple committees to install CCTV cameras on their premises to strengthen security and help prevent offences, including theft. Committee members were also instructed to report suspicious activities and any untoward incidents to the police immediately. The investigation continued, with the police examining the available footage and other evidence to establish the identities of those involved.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case is being added to the tracker under the primary category: Attack on Hindu religious representations. The subcategory selected is: Defiling religious customs. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. There are several such customs and traditions that are followed by various Hindus and Hindu sects. Defiling of these traditions and customs is a breach of an individual or group’s religious practices. Such practices can range from dietary restrictions like not eating non-vegetarian food for a certain period of the year, not eating non-vegetarian food at all, not eating beef since the cow is considered holy in Hinduism, the sanctity of religious customs followed in the house (like many ISCKON devotees), etc. Any malicious action leading to the breach of such traditions or defilement of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the religion itself but also from disregard for the faith of the devotees who follow the customs/traditions and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific sect of Hindus, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. This case is a clear example of a religiously driven hate crime, as the perpetrators deliberately targeted the Sri Kanaka Durga Ammavari Temple by hurling eggs at its premises during the Navratri celebrations. The act was directed at a sacred Hindu place of worship during an important religious festival, demonstrating a deliberate attempt to desecrate the temple and violate the religious sentiments of Hindu devotees. To understand the religious violation involved, one must first understand the religious significance of Navratri and the worship of Goddess Durga during the festival. Navratri is a sacred Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the Divine Feminine, particularly Goddess Durga, who represents divine power, the triumph of good over evil and the destruction of demonic forces. Devotees observe the festival through prayers, fasting, devotional singing and other religious rituals, seeking the Goddess's blessings and expressing their reverence for her. To begin with, the throwing of eggs within the premises of the Sri Kanaka Durga Ammavari Temple constituted an act of disrespect towards a sacred Hindu place of worship. Temples hold profound religious significance in Hinduism, serving as spaces for prayer, devotion, the performance of rituals, and the worship of deities. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga, who is revered as a powerful manifestation of the Divine Mother and a symbol of strength, protection, and the triumph of good over evil. The presence of eggs within the temple premises, particularly during an important religious festival, defiled the sanctity of a Hindu place of worship because the temple grounds formed part of its sacred environment. Such an act interfered with the holiness and peaceful atmosphere that worshippers associate with the temple and was a direct affront to Hindu religious sentiments. Of particular significance was the scattering of eggs across different parts of the temple premises, including the temple tower (gopuram), which intensified the sense of religious disrespect. This proved that the act was deliberate and rooted in religious animosity, with the intention of defiling a places of worship. The significance of a temple extends beyond the sanctum and the deity's idol to the surrounding premises, where religious gatherings, devotional activities, and festival rituals take place. By targeting the temple and its premises during Navratri, the perpetrators desecrated a Hindu religious site at an important occasion of worship. The act demonstrated contempt for Hindu religious sentiments and the sanctity of a place dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga. Eggs were also thrown at women devotees who had gathered at the temple to perform Navratri puja and worship Goddess Durga. This extended the desecration beyond the temple premises to Hindu worshippers who were participating in religious observances. By throwing eggs at devotees during prayers, the perpetrators directly disrupted Hindu religious worship and subjected worshippers to an act of disrespect at a sacred place. Targeting devotees during Navratri, an important Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga, demonstrated contempt for their religious practices and sentiments. The incident therefore constituted an affront both to the sanctity of the Hindu temple and to the devotees who had gathered there to worship the Goddess. Most importantly, the timing of the incident during the sacred days of Navratri added to its religious significance and the distress it caused among Hindu devotees. During this period, devotees gather at temples to participate in prayers, perform rituals, seek divine blessings, and reaffirm their faith. The defilement of the Durga temple during these celebrations disrupted the atmosphere of devotion and intensified the sense of violation felt by worshippers. The timing of the incident heightened its emotional and religious impact because the disturbance occurred when devotees were specifically gathered to honour the Goddess. Such an incident represents not merely a disturbance at a public location but an intrusion into a period of religious observance associated with devotion to the Divine Goddess. Accordingly, this case has been documented in the Hinduphobia Tracker's Hate Crime Database as an instance of religiously motivated hostility directed against Hinduism and the religious identity of the Hindu community.
Case Status
Complaint registered
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
