The 2026 Vishu festival in Kerala was marred by a significant social media controversy that led to police action, arrests, and widespread public outrage. Several dining establishments faced intense backlash after releasing promotional advertisements that depicted Lord Krishna alongside non-vegetarian dishes—a move widely condemned as a deliberate insult to religious sentiments.
The Restaurants Involved
| Restaurant Name | Location | Incident Details |
|---|---|---|
| Mehr Mandi & Grills | Cherthala, Alappuzha | The first outlet to go viral; depicted Bal Krishna sitting in front of a platter of chicken Kuzhimanthi. Two owners were arrested. |
| Yamama Shawaya | Angadipuram, Malappuram | Featured a poster of child Krishna alongside a Shawaya (grilled chicken) dish. Three individuals were taken into custody. |
| Go Grill Mandhi Mahal | Erattupetta, Kottayam | Identified by netizens for using provocative imagery of Krishna consuming non-vegetarian food to celebrate Vishu. |
| Thalassery Kitchen Food & Catering | Kozhikode | Faced backlash for using similar Krishna-meat visuals to promote their festive catering and Mandi packages. |
| Raydan Restaurant | Edakkara & Vazhikkadavu | A specific ad depicted a “blue-skinned hand” (styled as Lord Krishna) picking meat from a Biryani platter. Under police probe. |
| Arabian Majlis | Multi-outlet (Kottakkal/Malappuram) | Circulated a Vishu greeting featuring a child-like Krishna seated at a dining table eating from a meat-based plate. |
| Nadawi Mandi | Bengaluru | Shared a poster showing Krishna holding a piece of meat beside a Mandi platter; removed the post following intense backlash. |
| Mandi Manzil Hotel Group | Trivandrum, Kollam, Alappuzha | Multiple regional outlets of this group were identified by netizens for using standardized “Krishna-meat” promo templates. |
Full details of each restaurants given below the Summary.
Summary of the Controversy
The posters typically featured Bal Krishna (the deity as a child) in traditional festive settings, but with a provocative twist: instead of the traditional vegetarian butter or prasadam, the deity was shown with Arabian meat dishes.
“The image was shared with the intention of hurting religious sentiments and disturbing public peace.” — Official FIR, Kerala Police.
Key Developments:
- Legal Action: Police booked the owners under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot.
- The Defense: Most restaurant owners issued video apologies, claiming the designs were created by “third-party agencies” or “outsourced graphic designers” who lacked cultural awareness.
- Public Response: Organizations like the VHP and Hindu Aikyavedi staged protest marches, leading to the temporary closure of some affected branches to maintain law and order.
The incident has sparked a larger debate across Kerala regarding the boundaries of creative marketing and the need for brands to respect the cultural and religious sensibilities of their patrons.
Restaurant Details & Controversial Promos
| Mehr mandi & grills |
|---|
| Velorvattom, Cherthala, Kerala 688524 Google Map Location |
| Mandi Manzil Hotel Group |
|---|
| Opposite BSNL, Cheruvannur, Calicut, Kerala 673027 Customer Care : 06235 022 055 | Google Map location |
| Kaipamangalm, Kalamuri, Koorikuzhi, Kerala 680681 Customer Care : 08138 022 055 | Google Map location |
| Near D Cinemas, South Chalakudy, Thrissur, Chalakudy, Kerala 680307 Customer Care : 07593 022 055 | Google Map Location |
| Perambra, Thrissur, Kerala 680689 Customer Care : 09562 022 055 | Google Map location |
| Kazhakootam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695582 Customer Care : 08592 022 055 | Google map location |
| Thampanoor, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695014 Customer Care : 09544 022 055 | Google Map location |
| Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695011 Customer Care : 08589 022 055 | Google Map location |
| Karyavattom Rd, Ambalathinkara, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695582 Customer Care : 09207 022 055 | Google map location |
| Priyadarshini Nagar, Kadapakkada, Kollam, Kerala 691019 Customer Care : 08943 022 055 | Google Map location |
| Vazhappally, Mevaram Jn, Kollam, Kerala 691589 Customer Care : 07558 022 055 | Google Map location |
| Opposite Krishna theater Market road. Karunagappally, kollam Customer Care : 07736 022 055 | Google Map location |
| Go Grill Mandhi Mahal |
|---|
| Go Grill Mandhi Mahal, Kaduvamuzhi, Erattupetta Phone: 09846981000 | Google map location |
| Thalassery Kitchen Food & Catering |
|---|
| Beach Road, Beach, opposite Kozhikode, Kozhikode, Phone: 09895143325 | Google Map location |
| Raydan Restaurant |
|---|
| Muppini, Edakkara, Kerala 679334 PH: 08304000413 | Google Map location |
| Vazhikkadavu, Kerala 679333 PH: 09744090402 | Google Map location |
| Yamama Shawaya |
|---|
| Oradampalam-Valiyavitilpadi, Tirurkad, Perinthalmanna, Kerala 679321 Phone: 09747362102 | Google Map location |
| Arabian Majlis (Multi-outlet) |
|---|
| Koliyottuthazham, Kerala 673317 Ph: 08714900933 | Google map location |
| Munda, Edakkara, Kerala 679331 Ph: 08078200999 | Google map location |
| Cherpulassery, Kacherikunnu, Cherpulassery, Kerala 679503 Ph: 09778450501 | Google map locaton |
| Opp. TVS Showroom, Parambilangadi, Kottakkal, Kerala 676503 Ph: 09645001414 | Google map location |
| SH 72, Tirurangadi, Kerala 676306 Ph: 09986700333. | Google map location |
| Thurakkal, Kozhikode – Palakkad Hwy, Kondotty, Kerala 673638 Ph: 07592993344 | Google map location |
| Mukkola, Tanur, Parappanangadi, Kerala 676302 Ph: 07736721187 | Google map location |
| Kozhikode-Nilambur-Gudallur Rd, Petta, Feroke, Kozhikode, Kerala 673631 Ph: 07592993311 | Google map location |
| NH 66, Kozhikode – Palakkad Hwy, Nallalam, Cheruvannur, Kozhikode, Kerala 673655 Ph: 09605341819 | Google map location |
| Beach Near Old, Municipal Corporation, Silk St, Mananchira, Kozhikode, Kerala 673032 Ph: 08714332242 | Google map location |
| Koduvally Bus Stand Ln, Koduvally, Kerala 673572 Ph: 07592993322 | Google map location |
| Nadawi Mandi Restaurant |
|---|
| Maha Yogi Vemana Rd, Konappana Agrahara, Electronic City, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560100 Phone: 09846310311 | Google Map location |
Disclaimer & Reader Advisory:
The content of this article discusses a highly sensitive issue that may be distressing or hurt the sentiments of some readers. The following information is a compilation of reports, social media updates, publically available information of the restaurant eg: Google Map, Restaurant website and news documented across the internet to the best of our accuracy at the time of publishing.
The author and this portal are not responsible for the original actions of the entities mentioned, nor for the subjective interpretation of this data. This report is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to malign or hurt any individual, establishment, community, or religion. Readers are advised to view the content with discretion.