DHAR, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA, February 3, 2006: Security personnel resorted to mild lathi charge (caning) to check surging mobs from entering the historic Bhojshala to enable Muslims to offer Friday prayers, as several thousands of people had assembled at this communally sensitive district town to offer havan (fire worship) on the occasion of Basant Panchami on Friday. Tension arose as security personnel deployed at the entrance of the 11th century monument, now in the possession of the Archaeological Survey of India, stopped Hindus from entering the heavily barricaded Bhojshala premises, where the Saraswati temple and Kamal Moula masjid are located barely 50 feet away. (HPI note: For background on this complex situation, click here.)
This is the third time in over 15 decades that Basant Panchami fell on Friday. Public Works Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya is also camping in Dhar to convince both Hindu and Muslim communities to avoid any showdown. From early Friday morning, Hindus have queued up along the heavily barricaded Bhojshala premises to offer prayers to Goddess Saraswati. The original Vageshwari Deity, installed during the rule of Raja Bhoj in the 11th century, is presently in the British Museum in London. Amid controversy, the Archaeological Survey of India, which had taken over Bhojshala, had permitted Hindus to perform puja on every Tuesday besides a havan on Basant Panchami, while Muslims were permitted to offer Friday prayers at the Kamal Moula masjid. The temple and masjid are located less than 50 feet away. To avoid any showdown, the administration had convinced Muslims to perform only token prayers between 1300 and 1500 hours, official sources said.