Devotees celebrate High Court verdict
Large numbers of worshippers gathered at Bhojshala to offer prayers and perform aarti
A day after the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the disputed Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar as a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, Hindu devotees gathered at the site on Saturday to offer prayers, perform aarti and celebrate the verdict.
The atmosphere at the Bhojshala complex turned deeply emotional as devotees recited bhajans, chanted Hanuman Chalisa and participated in religious rituals inside the premises.
Members of the Bhoj Utsav Samiti also joined the celebrations, describing the court’s decision as a historic moment after years of legal and religious disputes surrounding the site.
#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh | Devotees offer prayers at the Bhojshala complex in Dhar
Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex a temple and granted the Hindu side the right to worship at the site pic.twitter.com/empt4w0ZWe
— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2026
Devotees celebrate High Court verdict
Large numbers of devotees visited the Bhojshala complex soon after the court ruling, with many expressing joy over being able to worship freely at the site.
Several devotees said they had waited for years to witness such a moment and described the verdict as a major victory for faith and heritage.
One devotee present at the complex said the atmosphere was filled with emotion as people celebrated by singing devotional songs and dancing inside the premises.
The devotee also claimed that daily worship could now continue without restrictions following the court’s ruling.
Bhoj Utsav Samiti calls verdict historic
Members of the Bhoj Utsav Samiti welcomed the judgment and thanked those who had fought a prolonged legal battle over the Bhojshala complex.
Samiti member Rajesh Shukla said the ruling had paved the way for uninterrupted worship of Goddess Saraswati at the site.
He also expressed hope that the ancient idol of Goddess Saraswati, currently housed in London’s British Museum, would eventually be brought back to the Bhojshala complex.
Shukla appealed to all communities to respect the High Court’s verdict and maintain peace in the region.
High Court sets aside 2003 ASI arrangement
On Friday, the Madhya Pradesh High Court quashed parts of a 2003 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) order that had permitted Muslims to offer Friday namaz at the Bhojshala premises while regulating Hindu worship.
In its judgment, the court observed that Hindu worship at the site had continued over the years and had never been extinguished.
The bench also referred to historical records and literature identifying Bhojshala as a major centre of Sanskrit learning associated with Raja Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty.
The court further directed the government to consider efforts for the repatriation of the idol of Goddess Saraswati from the British Museum.
