Police arrested three people after more than 130 people fell ill following the celebration of the building’s construction.

Eight are in a critical condition.

The group immediately started vomiting, complained of severe stomach pain after eating the meal of cooked vegetables and rice on Friday, police said.

They have been taken to various hospitals in Chamarajnagar district of Karnataka state. The area is 110 miles (180km) south of Bangalore.

Police said three members of the temple’s management have been detained and samples of the food has been sent for analysis.

Murege Swamy, who attended the ceremony, said: “They were giving us some offerings at the temple. It had a weird smell. When we asked what that was, they told us it is because of leaves in the offering.”

“As soon as we ate that, me and my friends felt a sharp pain in our stomachs and started puking,” Swamy said.

Sangeeta, who also attended, said she felt lucky she didn’t eat anything at the temple, adding: “”Only a few were OK, but everyone else was vomiting immediately.”