MP’s Bhojshala sees Namaz and Pooja together after 10 years:Havan for Goddess Vagadevi continues; Muslim community offers prayers amid tight security, 8,000 personnel deployed

In the disputed religious site Bhojshala in Dhar, special arrangements were made on Friday for worship and Namaz on the occasion of Basant Panchami. Hindu devotees performed Vagadevi (Saraswati) worship at sunrise. Hawan and recitations will continue till sunset. In a separate area, Friday Namaz was also offered amid tight security. Usually, worship is permitted on Basant Panchami and namaz on Fridays, but when both fall on the same day, the situation tends to become tense. More than 8,000 personnel from local police, CRPF and the Rapid Action Force have been deployed across the Bhojshala campus and Dhar city. Surveillance is being carried out using CCTV cameras, drones and AI technology. Earlier on Thursday, while hearing a petition filed by the Hindu Front for Justice, the Supreme Court allowed the Hindu side to perform Vagadevi worship from sunrise to sunset. The Muslim side was permitted to offer Friday namaz between 1 pm and 3 pm.