Basant Panchami Puja Commences at Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Complex Amid Heavy Security
Supreme Court time-sharing allows uninterrupted Hindu prayers from sunrise to sunset on festival day coinciding with Friday namaz.
The annual Basant Panchami puja commenced early Friday at the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district, drawing large numbers of Hindu devotees under stringent security arrangements. Around 8,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across the city to maintain peace, especially as the Hindu festival coincided with Friday prayers for the Muslim community. The site, a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India, remains a focal point of religious claims—revered by Hindus as a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and by Muslims as the Kamal Maula Mosque.
Following Supreme Court directions issued on Thursday, a clear time-sharing formula was implemented to avoid friction. Hindus were permitted to conduct prayers, including the continuous ‘Akhand Puja’, from sunrise to sunset, while Muslims were allotted the window between 1 pm and 3 pm for namaz. Devotees arrived at sunrise, adorning the complex with saffron flags and flowers, and members of the Bhoj Utsav Samiti installed an image of Goddess Saraswati, initiating rituals with Vedic chants and offerings in the havan kund.
District Magistrate Priyank Mishra confirmed that arrangements ensured smooth conduct of prayers for both communities without interruption. Alternative locations were provided for Muslim namaz to prevent overlap at the main site. Superintendent of Police Mayank Awasthi detailed extensive mapping of the city into seven zones and the complex into six sectors, with constant monitoring through drones, CCTV, and social media surveillance to curb any inflammatory content.
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As the day progressed, crowds of Hindu devotees swelled at the complex. Ashok Jain of the Bhoj Utsav Samiti expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court for enabling the full-day Akhand Puja, while devotee Sarika Sharma highlighted the joy of receiving darshan of Goddess Saraswati and called for a permanent resolution to the longstanding dispute. The ASI’s 2003 order already permits Hindu worship on Tuesdays and Muslim prayers on Fridays, but special provisions were made for this year’s overlapping festival.
The peaceful execution of rituals so far reflects effective administrative coordination in a sensitive location, with authorities remaining vigilant throughout the day to uphold law and order.
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