Peace prevailed at the disputed 11th-century Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on Friday as Hindus performed Basant Panchami puja from sunrise to sunset, while Muslims offered namaz at a designated place within the premises during a fixed time window, officials said.
The arrangements were carried out under heavy security following a Supreme Court order issued a day earlier, which laid down a time-sharing formula to avoid any potential friction as the festival coincided with a Friday. While the Hindu community was permitted to conduct prayers throughout the day, Muslims were allowed to offer namaz between 1 pm and 3 pm.
District authorities said no untoward incident or breach of peace was reported during the day.
Around 8,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across Dhar, with security forces maintaining a strict vigil at the disputed site. The complex was divided into six security sectors, while the city was split into seven zones, with sensitive areas identified and placed under close watch.
Devotees began gathering at the historic site at sunrise, with the premises decorated with saffron flags and flowers. Members of the Bhoj Utsav Samiti installed an image of Goddess Saraswati, also known as Maa Vagdevi, and initiated the ‘Akhand Puja’, a continuous prayer from sunrise to sunset, accompanied by Vedic chants and offerings in the havan kund.
Also read: Basant Panchami puja begins amid tight security at MP’s Bhojshala
“The Hindu community’s prayers are proceeding smoothly amid tight security arrangements,” District Magistrate Priyank Mishra said, adding that the administration had ensured that religious activities of both communities were conducted without interruption.
Superintendent of Police Mayank Awasthi said the entire city had been mapped and surveillance enhanced through drones and CCTV cameras. “Social media is also being monitored to prevent the spread of any inflammatory messages,” he said.
As the day progressed, the number of Hindu devotees increased steadily. “We are grateful to the Supreme Court for allowing Akhand Puja at Bhojshala,” Ashok Jain of the Bhoj Utsav Samiti said.
Sarika Sharma, who attended the puja with her family, said, “We are happy to have a darshan of Goddess Saraswati on Basant Panchami day. We want a permanent solution to the Bhojshala issue soon.”
The Hindu community considers Bhojshala a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, while Muslims refer to the monument as the Kamal Maula Mosque. The complex is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, which, since April 2003, has permitted Hindu worship on Tuesdays and Muslim prayers on Fridays.
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