Saraswati Puja, Friday namaz held peacefully at Bhojshala in MP amid tight security

Saraswati Puja rituals and namaz were performed peacefully amid tight security at Bhojshala, the 11th-century protected monument in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar

Updated on: Jan 23, 2026, 16:36:04 IST

By Shruti Tomar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Bhopal: Saraswati Puja rituals and namaz were performed peacefully amid tight security at Bhojshala, the 11th-century protected monument in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar, on Friday afternoon.

Dhar district collector Priyank Mishra on Friday said that Hindu devotees began worship at sunrise, with havan and recitations continuing until sunset in accordance with Supreme Court directions (PTI)

Special arrangements were made for both the Friday prayers of the Muslim community and the mahaarti (a ritual) of Goddess Saraswati on the occasion of Basant Panchami at the disputed site, following directions from the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court on Thursday gave a specific time-sharing formula to avoid any kind of communal friction. A bench led by chief justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant ruled that religious activities on Friday, January 23, would be split, with the Hindu community permitted to perform prayers from sunrise to sunset, while the Muslim community would be allowed to offer namaz between 1 pm and 3 pm.

Dhar district collector Priyank Mishra on Friday said that Hindu devotees began worship at sunrise, with havan and recitations continuing until sunset in accordance with Supreme Court directions.

“Around 1 pm, members of the Muslim community were escorted inside Bhojshala in a police van for Friday prayers, which were offered around 2 pm. Afterward, they exited under police security. They were allocated a separate place for their prayers,” the collector added.

Mishra emphasised that the situation at Bhojshala remained peaceful.

“The police and the Rapid Action Force maintained strict surveillance over the movement and activities of devotees. Artificial intelligence and drones are being used to keep an eye on all activity at Bhojshala,” said Anuraag Singh, Inspector General of the Indore division.

Meanwhile, mobile vans and police teams on bikes made announcements urging extra vigilance in the city and on social media. Authorities issued a warning that strict action would be taken against anyone spreading misinformation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.