Udupi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay visited the renowned Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple on Friday and offered special prayers to Goddess Mookambika amid tight security arrangements and unprecedented fan frenzy. The visit attracted thousands of supporters who gathered along the route and outside the temple to catch a glimpse of the actor-turned-politician during his first visit to Karnataka after assuming office as Chief Minister.
According to temple authorities, Vijay is the third Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to visit the famous shrine while in office, following the late M.G. Ramachandran and the late J. Jayalalithaa.
Grand welcome and special pooja at temple
Vijay arrived at the temple at around 3.30 pm and participated in special rituals seeking the blessings of Goddess Mookambika. During the visit, he offered a silver sword weighing 1.6 kg to the deity as a mark of devotion.
Temple priests also tied a consecrated thread around his wrist, symbolising divine protection and blessings. The Chief Minister spent nearly 30 minutes inside the temple premises performing the rituals and interacting with temple authorities.
Following the pooja, the temple administration felicitated him and extended traditional honours in recognition of his visit.
Massive fan turnout despite rain
The Chief Minister’s visit triggered massive excitement among supporters, many of whom travelled from different parts of Karnataka and neighbouring states.
Large crowds assembled outside the temple premises, raising slogans in support of Vijay. Despite heavy rainfall in the region, enthusiastic fans waited for hours to catch a glimpse of their favourite actor and political leader.
Several supporters reportedly climbed trees and nearby buildings to get a better view as security personnel struggled to manage the swelling crowds.
To maintain order, police deployed additional personnel in and around the temple complex. Authorities later resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse sections of the crowd that had gathered near restricted areas.
Security tightened across Kollur
Udupi district police had made elaborate security arrangements for the high-profile visit. Security was coordinated between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu police personnel, with strict monitoring of movement around the temple and key transit points.
Officials clarified that regular devotees were not deprived of darshan opportunities due to the visit. However, the temple’s routine closure timings were modified for security reasons.
Instead of the usual afternoon closure between 1.30 pm and 3.30 pm, the temple remained closed from 2 pm to 4 pm on Friday to facilitate security arrangements and the Chief Minister’s visit.
Protesters detained before arrival
Ahead of Vijay’s arrival, activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike attempted to stage a protest at Udyavara on National Highway 66.
The protesters planned to display black flags and raise slogans against the Tamil Nadu government over its opposition to Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu Irrigation Project on the Cauvery River.
Police intervened before the protest could escalate and took the activists into preventive custody to ensure smooth movement of the Chief Minister’s convoy and maintain law and order.
Arrival in Mangaluru and return journey
Vijay arrived in Karnataka from New Delhi aboard a special flight and landed at Mangaluru International Airport at approximately 1.30 pm, around an hour behind schedule.
He was received by Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader and senior officials of the Dakshina Kannada district administration. During the reception, Additional Deputy Commissioner Raju K. presented him with a copy of a book on Swami Vivekananda.
A large number of fans had gathered outside the airport to welcome him before he proceeded to Kollur under tight security cover, travelling nearly 120 kilometres by road.
Many supporters who had assembled outside a private hotel in Udupi hoping to meet him were left disappointed after last-minute changes to his itinerary. Owing to the delay in arrival, Vijay skipped the planned halt and proceeded directly to the temple.
Chief Minister drives himself
After completing the temple visit, Vijay surprised many by personally driving his vehicle, moving beyond the usual security protocol.
He first drove to a nearby guest house where he took a brief rest before once again taking the wheel and driving towards Mangaluru International Airport.
Several fans managed to take selfies with the Chief Minister before he departed from Karnataka.
The visit concluded peacefully amid tight security, drawing significant public attention and reinforcing Vijay’s continued popularity among supporters across the region.