Dhar

A day after the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the disputed Bhojshala complex to be a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, large numbers of Hindu devotees visited the historic monument on Saturday to offer prayers, while authorities said the overall situation in the district remained peaceful.

Men and women carrying flowers and garlands were seen entering the ASI-protected site, where devotees performed Saraswati Vandana and recited religious hymns inside the medieval structure.

Many worshippers described the day as an emotional moment following years of legal and religious contest over the monument’s identity.

One devotee, Gokul Nagar, said devotees had waited a long time to witness the development and expressed happiness over the possibility of offering prayers at the site on a regular basis.

Another devotee, Sanjay, said he had brought an image of Goddess Saraswati with the intention of placing it inside the complex, but officials stopped him, stating that the rules and procedural guidelines of the Archaeological Survey of India regarding such matters were yet to be finalised.

He said he respected the legal status of the monument and would comply with directions issued by ASI authorities.

Senior police officials said law and order remained fully under control in Dhar despite heightened public interest following the court verdict.

Manoj Kumar Singh said devotees were visiting the site peacefully and no untoward incident had been reported.

He added that around 1,200 police personnel have been deployed across the district as a precautionary measure to maintain security and public order.

On Friday, the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex is a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.

In its detailed judgment, the court also set aside a 2003 order issued by the Archaeological Survey of India that had allowed Muslims to offer prayers at the site on Fridays while restricting Hindu worship to Tuesdays.

Representatives of the Muslim side have announced their intention to challenge the verdict before the Supreme Court of India.

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Meanwhile, a petitioner representing the Hindu side has already filed a caveat in the apex court, requesting that no interim order be passed on any appeal related to the Bhojshala dispute without first hearing their arguments.