Reports that the temple name written in Tamil for “Hindi” had been removed at the entrance gate of the Madurai Kallazhagar Temple have sparked controversy.
People from various parts of the country usually visit the famous Madurai Kallazhagar Temple and offer their prayers before leaving. At the entrance area of this temple, there is a very grand ornamental gateway. On this entrance gate, the name ‘Arulmigu Kallazhagar Thirukkoyil, Alagarkoyil’ had been written in paint in three languages: Tamil, Hindi, and English. Now, the letters in that painted name have been removed and replaced with shining raised letters.
On Tuesday night, at the entrance gate of the Madurai Kallazhagar Temple, the temple’s name was written in Tamil, English, and Hindi. However, reports later emerged claiming that the temple name written in Tamil had been removed. Without verifying the authenticity of this issue, reactions began to spread.
In this situation, the Tamil Nadu government’s fact-checking unit has categorically denied this information. It also stated that the claim that Tamil was removed from the entrance gate of the Madurai Alagar Temple is false information, and urged people not to spread rumors.
Regarding this incident, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister C. Ramesh has also firmly denied it.
In an X post he released on this, he said, “The news broadcast by the news channel that Tamil language was removed from the name board at the Madurai Arulmigu Kallazhagar Temple is completely false and a deliberately fabricated fake news item.
In the photograph used in the news, the Tamil letters that were on the name board were deliberately hidden using Photoshop, and a fake image was created to make it appear as though Tamil had been removed; this was then presented and reported as if it were a real photograph.

We categorically state that the Tamil language has not been removed in any way from the name board of the Madurai Arulmigu Kallazhagar Temple. We also clarify that the name board remains exactly the same as it was in previous years.
We make it clear to the public that this news is a fabricated lie and completely contrary to the truth. It is highly condemnable to deliberately distort and misrepresent the facts and publish such news using a responsible platform like the media.
Such actions not only create unnecessary confusion among the public, but must also be regarded as being carried out with the intent of tarnishing the reputation of the government and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department among the people.
I strongly condemn this act of creating a false photograph and spreading a fabricated news report based on it.
The claim that Tamil has been removed from the entrance gate of the Madurai Alagar Temple is false information#IID #TNIID@CMOTamilnadu @TVKVijayHQ @TNDIPRNEWS @imrajmohan pic.twitter.com/kC8xPIoy0n
— TN IID (@tn_factcheck) October 6, 2026
Appropriate action will certainly be taken, in accordance with the law, against media outlets that spread such false and misleading news. We kindly request the public not to believe such fake news or the news organizations that distort and publish the truth,” he posted.
Earlier, the guideboard installed on State Highway No. 93 from Sathankulam in Thoothukudi district to Nazareth, which listed the names of Tirunelveli, Alwarthirunagari, Thoothukudi, and Tiruchendur in Tamil, English, and Hindi, had caused a major controversy. In this matter, two people were suspended from duty. In this context, the spread of such false information has further fueled the controversy.
Reports that the temple's name—written in Tamil—was removed from the entrance of the Madurai Kallazhagar Temple to make way for 'Hindi' have sparked a controversy.
