-News n Pics : Anand Kumar Barkur
Barkur, November 2, 2026
Rizwan Arshad, Karnataka's Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and in-charge minister of Udupi district, visited the historic town of Barkur today. He called on a temple, a church and a mosque in a single day. The visits drew warm welcomes from all three communities and underlined the town's long tradition of religious coexistence.
Barkur: The Capital of Tulunadu
Barkur, in Udupi district, is remembered as the historic capital of Tulunadu. The town has long been a centre of trade, culture and faith on the coast. It is known for its ancient temples, historic places of worship and rich heritage, and communities of different faiths have lived there side by side for centuries.
The Minister's Visits
Sri Panchalingeshwara Temple
The minister's first stop was the Sri Panchalingeshwara Temple at Kote Keri. This major shrine is set for a comprehensive renovation. Temple representatives welcomed him with traditional honours and presented him with the deity's prasada.
They briefed him on the planned restoration work and on the wider development needs of Barkur, and submitted a memorandum seeking government support. Speaking to the media, the minister said Barkur reflects the idea of India as a land where all faiths live in harmony, and called this a model for the country. He assured the town of his full cooperation in projects to develop Barkur as a tourism and pilgrimage centre.
St. Peter's Church
The minister then visited the historic St. Peter's Church. The parish priest, Fr. Ronald Miranda, and members from the church's various wards received him warmly. They felicitated him and expressed their appreciation for the visit.
Malik Dinar Juma Masjid
The final visit was to the Malik Dinar Juma Masjid, regarded as the first mosque in Karnataka. The mosque's managing committee welcomed and honoured the minister, and submitted a petition seeking support for its development works.
During the visit the minister also felicitated historian Jagadish Shetty for his contribution to documenting and preserving the region's heritage. Members of the Malik Dinar Young Men's Committee expressed hope that the visit would further strengthen unity, harmony and progress in Barkur.
Those Present
Several dignitaries and community leaders accompanied the minister across the three venues:
- Government and public representatives: M. A. Gafoor, Chairman of the Karnataka Coastal Authority; Dinakar Heroor, Chairman of the Udupi Urban Development Authority; and Bhujanga Shetty, former President of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat.
- Temple renovation committee: Suggi Sudhakar Shetty (President), B. Shantharama Shetty (Working President), Chandrashekar Shetty (Vice-President) and Srinivas Shetty (General Secretary).
- Historians: Jagadish Shetty, Rajesh Shetty K. and Uday Kumar Shetty.
- Local leaders and committee members: B. Ramachandra Kamath, Janardhan Devadiga, Narasimha Devadiga, Krishna, Madhusudan Kacchur, Manjunatha Poojary, Ratnakara Shetty, Mallika Hegde, Uma K., Gouri V. Poojary and Asha, along with members of the temple's management board and renovation committee.
- Mosque representatives: Mubarak and Amir Basha Saheb of the mosque's administrative committee, and members of the Malik Dinar Young Men's Committee.
- Others: Political leaders, media representatives and devotees.
A Message of Unity
By visiting a temple, a church and a mosque on the same day, the minister highlighted Barkur's tradition of religious harmony. All three institutions used his visit to present their development needs, and his assurance of support has raised hopes for the town's heritage conservation and its growth as a tourism and pilgrimage destination.
