Hindu devotees gathered at the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar to offer prayers and perform a special havan on May 16, 2026 [2].
The event follows a ruling by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which declared the site a Hindu Saraswati temple and granted unrestricted worship rights [1, 4]. This legal determination settles a long-standing dispute over the religious identity and usage of the complex.
Among those present was Gopal Sharma, the convener of the Bhojshala Mukti Yagna. The gathering included the lighting of the Akhand Jyoti, which devotees said was lit after 700 years [1].
"Finally, the site has been recognised as a temple," Sharma said [1].
The devotees converged on the site in the Dhar district the day after the court's verdict was delivered [2, 4]. The prayers and rituals were conducted to mark the consecration of a Saraswati idol at the site [1].
Local reports indicated that the situation remained peaceful as crowds flocked to the complex [4]. The rituals served as a public celebration of the court's decision to recognize the site's Hindu heritage, a move that allows for open religious practice without previous restrictions [1, 4].
“Finally, the site has been recognised as a temple.”
The High Court's ruling transforms the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex from a contested site into a legally recognized Hindu temple. By granting unrestricted worship rights, the court has effectively ended the shared or restricted access model, which may set a legal precedent for similar heritage disputes in the region.
