An idol of Nandi Bhagwan has been stolen from the Kali Mata Temple in Melbourne’s north, in the latest incident targeting a place of worship in the city.
The theft took place at the Kali Mata Mandir in Craigieburn at around 2:00 am on 6 March 2026, when an unidentified individual allegedly entered the temple premises and removed the sacred idol before leaving the site.
Temple representatives said the entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed at the temple. The footage reportedly shows the suspect entering the temple grounds in the early hours of the morning and taking the Nandi Bhagwan idol.
The incident has left devotees distressed, with community members describing the act as deeply hurtful, given the religious importance of the idol. Nandi Bhagwan, the sacred bull and devoted vehicle of Lord Shiva, holds a special place in Hindu worship and is commonly placed at the entrance of Shiva temples.
Temple priest Bhawna Puri strongly condemned the theft and said the temple had been repeatedly targeted in recent weeks.
“This is extremely painful for our community. Nandi Bhagwan is sacred for devotees, and seeing it stolen from a temple hurts deeply,” Puri said.
“This is the fourth time in just two months that our temple has been targeted. We are asking authorities to take this seriously and help ensure the safety of our place of worship.”
Victoria Police have been informed of the incident, and temple authorities say they are working with investigators by providing CCTV footage that may help identify the suspect.
The theft has also revived concerns among community leaders about a pattern of incidents involving places of worship across Melbourne in recent years.
Several Hindu temples in Victoria have previously been targeted by vandalism, including incidents where temples were defaced with anti-India graffiti. Sikh gurdwaras have also reported acts of vandalism and damage, prompting calls for stronger protection of religious institutions.
Community representatives say these incidents create fear among worshippers and underline the need for greater vigilance and improved security at religious sites.
Temple management at the Craigieburn site has appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone who may recognise the individual seen in the CCTV footage or who has information about the theft to contact police.
Devotees have also called for increased security measures, including better lighting, surveillance, and police monitoring around places of worship.
The stolen idol has not yet been recovered, and police investigations are ongoing.
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