Day after court order, aarti, puja performed at Gyanvapi Mosque
What's the story
The Varanasi administration in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday allowed Hindu devotees to offer prayers in the basement of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex.
This came a day after a court order upheld the right of the Hindu side to conduct religious rituals at the historical site.
According to reports, a priest conducted the puja and aarti at around 3:00am at the "Vyas Ka Tehkhana."
Meanwhile, security has been strengthened in the mosque area in Varanasi to prevent any untoward incidents.
Context
Why does this story matter?
Right-wing Hindu outfits assert that several mosques, including the Gyanvapi Mosque, were built by Muslim invaders by demolishing Hindu temples.
After its formation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fomented the matter during the 1980s and 1990s, highlighting it as a reclamation project for Hindus.
However, some Hindu priests allegedly rejected those claims by right-wing organizations—especially over the Gyanvapi dispute—blaming them for inciting communal tensions.
To implement court's decision
Officials hold midnight meeting, take stock of situation
Before the rituals were set to take place, Varanasi District Magistrate S Rajalingam and Commissioner of Police Ashok Mutha Jain held a meeting around midnight to take stock of the situation, Hindustan Times reported.
In the meeting, which was held within the adjacent premises of Kashi Vishwanath Dham, officials decided on the plan of action to facilitate the implementation of the court's decision.
The authorities then cleared a pathway within the barricades to allow access to the cellar.
Midnight activity
Hindu devotees queued up outside mosque on Wednesday night
Late Wednesday night, the area around the mosque was bustling with activity as Hindu devotees began arriving to pray in the cellar.
Members of the Rashtriya Hindu Dal, a Hindu outfit, were seen pasting the word "mandir" (temple) onto a sign near the mosque.
In response, a heavy security force was deployed in the area.
One of the devotees who offered prayers at the site told ANI, "We are very happy after offering prayers."
Twitter Post
Watch: Devotees react after offering prayers
#WATCH | Gyanvapi case | After the court grants permission for puja in the 'Vyas Ka Tekhana', a devotee says, "We all come here by 3-3:00 am every day for darshan...We are extremely happy and emotional with the court's order. Our happiness knows no bounds..." pic.twitter.com/TbceC6Cm79
— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2024
Petitioner claims
Ownership dispute over cellar
The mosque complex has four "tehkhanas" in the basement, and the Vyas family claims possession of one of them.
Somnath Vyas, a member of the family, prayed in the cellar before its sealing in 1993, as per Shailendra Pathak's petition.
Pathak, a family member, argued in court that their hereditary priest status entitles them to access and worship within the structure.
On Wednesday, the court directed the district administration to enable prayers inside the cellar within a week.
Muslim side's statement
Basement in possession of mosque committee: Muslim side lawyer
The Anjuman Itezamia Masajid Committee's counsel, Akhlaque Ahmad, has, however, refuted the claims that the Vyas family had ownership of the cellar.
He said, "The Vyas family never performed puja in the basement. No idol was there in the cellar. It is wrong to say that the people of Vyas family were in possession."
"The basement is in the possession of the...masjid committee," he added.
Moves court
Muslim side moves Supreme Court against court order
Meanwhile, the mosque committee has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against the district court's judgment allowing Hindu devotees to worship within the sealed "tehkhana," India Today reported.
The report said the panel approached the top court's vacation registrar on Wednesday night.
The lawyers were, however, informed on Thursday that they should approach the Allahabad High Court instead.