Bhubaneswar, May 23: A Romanian tourist was apprehended on Thursday after being found inside the sanctum premises of the 11th-century Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, a site that prohibits the entry of non-Hindus.
The individual, identified from his passport as Andrei Cristian, was caught taking photographs near the Achyuta Kahanda area, close to the inner sanctum.
Security personnel and temple servitors spotted the foreign national and immediately intervened, removing him from the premises. His presence triggered a disruption in the temple's daily rituals, which were delayed by approximately three and a half hours.
As per temple traditions, priests performed a purification ritual using lime water to cleanse the shrine following the unauthorized entry. This protocol is customary when the sanctity of the temple is considered compromised.
The tourist was taken into custody, and police are currently verifying his documents and passport details. Authorities have not yet commented on whether any charges will be filed.
