Hampi temple bans bananas to prevent overfeeding of elephant

The management of Virupaksha Temple in Hampi, Karnataka, has prohibited the bringing of bananas into its premises to prevent devotees from overfeeding the temple elephant and to reduce litter from discarded peels. Temple endowment officer Hanumantappa stated that the decision aims to benefit the temple, the elephant, and the devotees. He emphasized that the ban is a local matter and urged people not to misconstrue it. Virupaksha Temple, a 7th-century shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, attracts approximately 5,000 visitors daily, with numbers reaching up to 50,000 on special occasions.