Devotees Offer Friday Prayers At Bhojshala After 721 Years, Security Tightened Ahead Of Maha Aarti

Last Updated:May 22, 2026, 12:42 IST

Heavy security arrangements were put in place in and around the Bhojshala complex to maintain law and order.

A historic atmosphere was witnessed at the Bhojshala Kamal Maula complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on Friday as devotees gathered in large numbers for maha aarti and prayers dedicated to Maa Vagdevi following the Madhya Pradesh High Court verdict declaring the site a temple of Goddess Saraswati. For the first time in 721 years, Friday at the Bhojshala complex witnessed Hindu religious rituals and maha aarti instead of namaz, drawing massive crowds and emotional reactions from devotees.

The day’s ceremonies began around 9 am with the first aarti at the Maa Saraswati temple inside the complex as Vedic chants echoed across the premises. A grand maha aarti is scheduled to be held at around 1 pm, with devotees continuing to arrive at the site throughout the day.

Tight Security Around Bhojshala

Heavy security arrangements were put in place in and around the Bhojshala complex to maintain law and order. Police personnel and security agencies were deployed in large numbers across the area as authorities monitored the situation closely.

This was the first Friday at the disputed site after the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that the religious character of the structure was that of Bhojshala, a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.

The court also cancelled the 2003 arrangement under which Friday namaz and Hindu worship were both permitted at the ASI protected site.

Devotees Call It A Historic Day

Many devotees described the occasion as emotional and compared the atmosphere to Diwali celebrations.

“Before the court orders, the Muslim community used to offer ‘namaz’ here between 1-3 pm on Fridays. After the court order, today is the first Friday, when Hindu devotees will offer prayers here," Sumit Chaudhary told ANI.

A devotee visiting the complex said the day felt special for worshippers who had never been able to visit Bhojshala on a Friday earlier.

“Everyone is feeling very good. If a aarti is being performed, then every day feels very good. We have never been here on Fridays but today because of everyone’s efforts we are able to come here on Friday…" the devotee said.

Another devotee, Jyoti Soni, described the moment as the result of a long struggle.

“Today we have come to Bhojshala, and it feels very good. This is the first time we have come to Bhojshala on a Friday for the darshan (viewing) of Mother Vagdevi. We feel very happy. It was a long-drawn-out struggle. Truth can be troubled, but it cannot be defeated," Soni said.

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