Hindu groups held a Maha Aarti prayer ceremony at the Bhojshala complex in Dhar on the first Friday following the Madhya Pradesh High Court verdict declaring the site a temple. Police deployed in force across the city to maintain order as tensions remained elevated after the May 15 ruling.
Authorities restricted access to the ASI-protected monument and established multiple checkpoints. The Muslim side did not perform Friday namaz at the site after the administration declined permission, citing security concerns. Community leaders said they would resume prayers after the Supreme Court addresses their pending appeal.
The High Court quashed the 2003 arrangement under which Muslims prayed at the complex on Fridays while Hindus performed rituals on Tuesdays. Hindu organizations welcomed the verdict and organized the Maha Aarti as an assertion of worship rights. Local officials said the event concluded without major incident.
Dhar district has witnessed periodic tensions over the disputed site for decades. The Archaeological Survey of India continues to manage the property under the High Court’s direction. Both communities have called for peaceful conduct while legal proceedings continue in the Supreme Court.
The Archaeological Survey of India continues overall administration of the protected monument under the High Court’s direction. Kamal Maulana Welfare Society President Abdul Samad said the Muslim community would seek to prove through the Supreme Court that namaz has historically been offered at the site.
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First Friday After Bhojshala Ruling: ‘Maha Aarti’ Held Amid Tight Security