Religious activities resumed at the historic Bhojshala complex in Dhar on Sunday following the implementation of new guidelines issued by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Large numbers of Hindu devotees gathered at the site from early morning and offered prayers dedicated to Maa Vagdevi inside the premises. The reopening of worship arrangements under the revised framework created a festive atmosphere at the Bhojshala complex, with devotees carrying pictures of Maa Vagdevi and participating in traditional rituals. Authorities maintained security and monitoring arrangements during the religious activities.

Purification Ritual Performed

Before the Pooja rituals began, devotees and organisers carried out a purification ceremony inside the complex using cow urine, considered sacred in Hindu traditions. The sanctum area was decorated with colourful rangoli designs while priests and devotees performed rituals according to traditional customs. Organisers also shifted the eternal flame from the Jyoti Temple located outside the Bhojshala premises into the sanctum area for the special prayers. Religious chants and mantra recitations began at sunrise and continued through the morning hours.

Devotees Show Enthusiasm

A strong sense of enthusiasm was visible among devotees gathered at the Bhojshala complex. Several worshippers were seen celebrating with devotional songs and traditional dance performances after the commencement of the rituals. Members of Hindu organisations described the occasion as significant following the implementation of the new ASI guidelines regarding worship practices at the disputed historical site. The development remained one of the major Public Interest Story updates in Madhya Pradesh due to the long-standing religious and legal sensitivity linked to the Bhojshala complex.

Leaders Visit Bhojshala

On Saturday evening, Union Minister of State Savitri Thakur and saint Mahamandaleshwar Nisarg Das Maharaj visited Bhojshala to offer prayers. Dhar Collector Rajeev Ranjan Meena and Superintendent of Police Sachin Sharma also reached the premises and participated in the worship programme. Speaking during the visit, Savitri Thakur congratulated devotees and said the atmosphere around the site had become peaceful. She stated that earlier Fridays often witnessed tension around the complex, but the situation has now normalised.

Government Promises Development

The Union Minister further said devotees can now visit the site freely for darshan and worship. She also referred to the statement of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav regarding plans to develop Bhojshala in a more organised and attractive manner. According to government representatives, efforts are being planned to restore and develop the site while preserving its historical and cultural significance. Officials indicated that the objective is to promote Bhojshala as an important religious and heritage destination for visitors from across the country.

Hindu Groups Participate

Members of the Bhoj Utsav Samiti and local Hindu organisations reached the Bhojshala complex before sunrise on Sunday to oversee preparations. Bhoj Utsav Samiti general secretary Sumit Choudhary said purification rituals and Devi Anushthan programmes started early in the morning and continued throughout the day. He stated that a Maha Aarti by members of Hindu society was scheduled for 11:45 am. Organisation members also said discussions were underway regarding the future development and beautification of the complex.

Historical Significance Highlighted

Bhojshala has remained a historically and politically significant site in Madhya Pradesh for several decades due to competing religious claims associated with the complex. The latest ASI guidelines and reopening of worship arrangements have once again brought the site into public focus. Religious groups have welcomed the changes, while administrative authorities continue to monitor the situation to maintain law and order. Officials and religious groups indicated that further planning is underway to enhance facilities and preserve the heritage value of Bhojshala. The state government has also expressed interest in restoring the site’s historic grandeur.

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Devotees gathered at the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar on Saturday morning and performed prayers and Hanuman Chalisa recitation following a significant ruling by the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Indore bench. The development came after the court recognised the site as a Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati) temple dating back to the era of Raja Bhoj and granted worship rights to the Hindu side.

Peaceful Atmosphere Maintained

According to officials, prayers and religious activities were conducted peacefully under tight security arrangements. Members of different committees and local devotees reached the premises early in the morning and offered flowers and prayers at the site. Authorities maintained close monitoring in and around the Bhojshala complex to ensure law and order remained under control.

Court Recognises Historical Link

The High Court observed that the structure was linked to the Bhoj-Parmar period based on historical records and evidence presented during proceedings. The ruling has become a major development in the long-running Bhojshala High Court verdict dispute, which has remained sensitive for years due to competing claims over religious rights at the site.

ASI Order Partially Set Aside

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, stated that the court partially quashed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) order issued on April 7, 2003. That order had allowed members of the Muslim community to offer namaz at the complex during a fixed period on Fridays.

ASI Retains Administrative Control

Legal representatives clarified that the Bhojshala premises will continue to remain a protected monument under the ASI as per existing laws. ASI counsel Aviral Vikas Khare stated that administration, regulation, and monitoring of the monument would continue to remain under the authority of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Devotees Offer Prayers

During the morning rituals, devotees offered prayers at the Vagdevi sanctum area and near the yajna kund. Several committee office-bearers and supporters participated in the religious activities. Those present included members associated with Bhoj Utsav Samiti and Bhojshala Mukti Yagya campaigns.

Hanuman Chalisa Recited

Groups of devotees also recited Hanuman Chalisa inside the premises after the court ruling. Religious chants echoed across the complex as supporters welcomed the decision. Visuals from the site showed devotees participating peacefully in worship activities amid heavy security deployment.

Devotees React to Verdict

Many visitors expressed happiness over what they described as unrestricted access to worship after several years. A representative associated with the Bhojshala Mukti movement stated that every part of the structure reflected characteristics of a temple and welcomed the High Court decision.

Muslim Side May Move Supreme Court

Following the ruling, discussions have intensified regarding possible legal action by the Muslim side in the Supreme Court. In anticipation of further legal proceedings, the Hindu side has reportedly filed two caveat petitions in the apex court related to the Bhojshala High Court verdict matter.

Demand for Idol’s Return Mentioned

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain also stated that the court considered issues related to the original idol of Goddess Vagdevi, which is reportedly kept in a museum in London. The matter regarding return of the idol has remained part of broader discussions connected to the Bhojshala dispute.

Security Remains Tight

Police and administrative officials maintained strict surveillance throughout the day across Dhar city and the Bhojshala complex considering the sensitivity of the issue. Barricading and additional deployment of security personnel were arranged to prevent any untoward incident during the religious activities.

Historical and Legal Significance

The Bhojshala High Court verdict is being viewed as an important legal development in one of Madhya Pradesh’s long-standing religious and historical disputes. The ruling is expected to influence future proceedings related to worship rights, monument management, and interpretation of historical evidence connected to protected religious heritage sites in India.

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Authorities in Madhya Pradesh have intensified security arrangements ahead of the expected verdict in the long-pending Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque dispute in Dhar. The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court is likely to pronounce its decision on Friday after hearings on multiple petitions and intervention applications concluded earlier this month.

The development has become one of the biggest India News Update stories in the state because of the religious sensitivity associated with the Bhojshala complex. Administration officials in both Dhar and Indore districts have been placed on high alert, while police and reserve forces have been deployed in large numbers to maintain law and order. Dhar Collector Rajeev Ranjan Meena and Superintendent of Police Sachin Sharma visited the Bhojshala premises early Friday to review security arrangements. Officials inspected deployment points and monitored the situation inside and outside the disputed complex before leaving the area.

Police personnel have been stationed across the Bhojshala premises and surrounding localities. Authorities said special precautions were necessary because Friday coincides with Jumma prayers traditionally offered by members of the Muslim community at the site under the existing arrangement. Officials confirmed that nearly 1,200 police personnel from across the district have been deployed for security duty. Dhar city has reportedly been divided into 12 security layers to ensure complete monitoring of sensitive areas and quick response in case of any disturbance.

Senior police officials reviewed preparations at the district control room and instructed security teams to remain vigilant throughout the day. Reserve police forces and Rapid Action Force personnel have also been kept on standby. The administration appealed to residents of all communities to maintain peace and avoid spreading rumours or unverified information. Authorities said strict monitoring of social media platforms is underway and legal action would be taken against anyone found posting inflammatory or misleading content.

Meanwhile, members associated with Hindu organisations gathered near the Bhojshala premises and recited Hanuman Chalisa at nearby temples. Officials maintained close surveillance to ensure that religious activities remained peaceful and within permitted limits. The Bhojshala dispute has remained one of the most sensitive religious and legal issues in Madhya Pradesh for several years. The latest legal proceedings began in 2022 when petitioner Ranjana Agnihotri and others, representing Hindu Front for Justice, approached the High Court seeking declaration of the site’s religious character and full rights for Hindu worship.

The petition demanded uninterrupted पूजा and regular worship rights for Hindus at the Bhojshala complex. It also sought restrictions on namaz within the premises, formation of a trust for management of the site and the return of the idol of Goddess Vagdevi currently housed in the British Museum.

During the hearing, the Hindu side argued that Bhojshala is an ancient temple of Goddess Saraswati and historically functioned as a centre of learning during the rule of Paramara king Bhoj. Advocates referred to ASI survey findings, inscriptions, architectural remains and historical literature to support their claims.

Advocate Manish Gupta reportedly cited references from the ancient text Samarangana Sutradhara and argued that the structure matched traditional temple architecture described during King Bhoj’s era.

On the other hand, the Muslim side maintained before the court that the site has long functioned as Kamal Maula Mosque and argued that questions regarding religious character should be decided by a civil court. Senior advocate Salman Khurshid also raised objections regarding the clarity and interpretation of the Archaeological Survey of India’s scientific survey findings.

The ASI had conducted a 98-day scientific survey of the Bhojshala complex in 2024 following court directions. The findings later became a major point of discussion during arguments before the High Court. Earlier this year, on January 23, 2026, the Supreme Court permitted uninterrupted worship at Bhojshala throughout Vasant Panchami celebrations. Following this, regular hearings in the High Court continued from April 6 until May 12, after which the verdict was reserved.

The dispute has witnessed several tense moments over the years, especially when Vasant Panchami and Friday prayers coincided on the same day. Similar situations in 2013 and 2016 had led to heightened tension and heavy security deployment in Dhar. Under the current administrative arrangement in place since 2003, Hindus are permitted to offer prayers every Tuesday and on Vasant Panchami, while the Muslim community is allowed to offer Friday namaz at the complex. The site remains open to tourists on other days.

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