Bhojshala Sees Heavy Security as Vagdevi Idol Installed for Worship

Hindu groups hold special rituals at Bhojshala after HC ruling; Muslim side moves Supreme Court, around 2,000 security personnel deployed in Dhar

Dhar: The first Friday after the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared Dhar’s Bhojshala as the Vagdevi temple witnessed heightened security, religious ceremonies and political sensitivity across the city. Hindu organisations installed a Vagdevi idol inside the Bhojshala complex on Friday morning and began special prayers and rituals, while the Muslim side approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order.

Devotees started arriving at the protected site from early morning for darshan and puja. Many were seen singing bhajans and celebrating inside the premises as authorities maintained a tight security arrangement across Dhar town.

Special Friday Prayers

The Bhoj Utsav Samiti organised a special worship programme inside the complex, calling the day “historic” after the May 15 order of the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The court, while referring to archaeological and historical material, had recognised the site as the Vagdevi temple.

By afternoon, members of Hindu organisations gathered near Jyoti Mandir outside the Bhojshala premises for rituals and havan. Officials briefly intervened and asked devotees to move to a designated area around 50 steps away from the spot, leading to a short verbal exchange before the crowd dispersed peacefully.

Relatives of kar sevaks associated with the Bhojshala movement were also honoured during the programme. Several attendees entered the sanctum area for prayers and celebrated by dancing and chanting devotional songs.

Muslim Side Moves SC

Even as Hindu groups marked the development as a major victory, the Muslim side intensified its legal challenge. Late on Thursday evening, an SLP was filed in the Supreme Court questioning the High Court verdict.

Qazi Moinuddin termed the order “one-sided” and said the legal battle would continue within the constitutional framework. Sadar Abdul Samad said Friday prayers had been offered at the Kamal Maula mosque for nearly 700 years and any disruption to that tradition had caused concern within the community.

City Qazi Waqar Sadiq appealed for calm and urged residents to maintain communal harmony. He said the Muslim community respected the judiciary and hoped for relief from the Supreme Court in the coming days. The Muslim side had earlier announced plans to offer namaz at Bhojshala on Friday, but the programme was deferred late Thursday night.

Massive Security Cover

Authorities deployed nearly 2,000 police personnel and officers across Dhar district to prevent any untoward incident. Eight special security companies, including RAF, paramilitary units, STF teams and mounted police, were stationed in and around the Bhojshala complex.

Metal detector screening was made mandatory before entry into the premises. Police also used drones and mounted patrols for surveillance, while a dedicated cyber team monitored social media platforms for inflammatory or misleading posts.

Additional SP Vijay Dawar said continuous monitoring was underway to ensure law and order remained under control. A flag march led by Collector Rajiv Ranjan Meena and SP Sachin Sharma had also been conducted in the city on Thursday evening ahead of Friday prayers.

Claims Over Heritage

Leaders of the Bhoj Utsav Samiti said the movement would continue until the site regained what they described as its “original Bhoj-era glory”. Committee patron Ashok Jain claimed the Hindu community had struggled for centuries to reclaim the temple.

Committee members also reiterated demands for the return of the original Vagdevi idol believed to be housed in London. Hindu organisations have sent a memorandum to the Centre seeking steps for the idol’s return and removal of Islamic inscriptions from the sanctum area.

Petitioners linked to the case further demanded installation of sculptures and idols recovered during the ASI survey conducted at the site.

Background of Dispute

The Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar has remained at the centre of a long-running dispute between Hindu and Muslim groups over religious rights and historical identity. The ASI-protected monument has witnessed periodic tension, especially around Friday prayers and Vasant Panchami observances.

The recent High Court verdict has now intensified both celebration and legal contestation around the site. With the Muslim side moving the Supreme Court, the matter is expected to remain under close legal and administrative scrutiny in the coming weeks.

As Friday passed without major violence, officials said maintaining peace and communal harmony in Dhar would remain the administration’s top priority amid the ongoing Bhojshala dispute.