Heavy boots echoed across Dhar as Saraswati Puja commenced Friday at the fiercely disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula site in Madhya Pradesh, backed by unprecedented security following Supreme Court clearance. On Vasant Panchami, Hindu faithful poured in from the crack of dawn, their chants filling the air amid a fortress-like police presence.
Over 8,000 officers and RAF contingents stand guard, enforcing the apex court’s Thursday order: Hindus get the site from dawn till dusk for worship, Muslims the 1-3 PM slot for namaz. This interim measure revives a 2003 ASI protocol of weekly rotations while addressing festival demands.
The site’s layered history fuels the standoff. ASI safeguards it as an 11th-century relic. Hindus see divine embodiment of Saraswati, patron of arts and letters; Muslims uphold it as their mosque. Decades of claims and counter-claims have kept courts seized.
Collector Priyank Mishra, briefing on preparations, vowed iron-fisted response to any provocations. Strict surveillance monitors media and social networks, with legal hammers ready under new criminal codes and cyber laws.
Echoing the festive spirit, CM Mohan Yadav posted heartfelt Vasant Panchami felicitations on X, praying for Saraswati’s grace to infuse lives with wisdom, innovation, and abundance.
As prayers proceed, the focus sharpens on maintaining order. This high-stakes observance spotlights the delicate dance of religious rights in diverse India, where justice seeks to soothe ancient wounds.