Rare Friday Basant Panchami: SC allows puja, namaz at Bhojshala, Dhar (MP) on high alert

The Supreme Court on Thursday permitted Hindu prayers from sunrise to sunset and Muslim namaz between 1 pm and 3 pm on Basant Panchami at the disputed Bhojshala–Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar district, as the administration placed the area on high alert to prevent any law-and-order situation.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi directed the district administration to ensure peaceful conduct of religious activities and appealed to both communities to maintain mutual respect and restraint . The court also instructed that a list of persons from the Muslim community intending to offer namaz be submitted to the administration in advance.

The directions were issued as Basant Panchami falls on a Friday after nearly a decade , a rare overlap that requires special arrangements at the site.

The Bhojshala–Kamal Maula complex is an 11th-century monument protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) . Hindus regard the site as a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati) , while the Muslim community considers it the historic Kamal Maula mosque .

Following repeated communal tensions in the late 1990s, the ASI issued an order on April 7, 2003 , introducing a time-sharing worship arrangement . Under this framework, Hindus are permitted puja on Tuesdays , while Muslims are allowed namaz on Fridays , an arrangement that has remained in force for over two decades .

A special or “simultaneous” arrangement becomes necessary only when Basant Panchami coincides with Friday . Since 2003, such an overlap has occurred only three times — in 2003, 2016 and 2026 . The last instance in 2016 was managed successfully through time-separated prayers under administrative supervision.

As per established practice, Hindu puja is allowed from sunrise to 1 pm and again from 3.30 pm till sunset , while Friday namaz is conducted between 1 pm and 3 pm .

Anticipating large gatherings, the district administration has deployed nearly 8,000 security personnel , including units of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) , across Dhar district. The Bhojshala complex has been divided into multiple security sectors, with CCTV surveillance, drone monitoring, foot patrols and vehicle checks in place. Social media activity is also being closely monitored to curb misinformation.

The Bhoj Utsav Committee has sought permission to conduct ‘Akhand Puja’ , estimating participation of 30,000 to 50,000 devotees . On the other side, the Kamal Maula Namaz Intezamia Committee has requested that Friday prayers be conducted strictly in accordance with ASI guidelines .

The district administration said all arrangements were being made in line with Supreme Court directions and long-standing ASI norms to ensure peaceful observance of religious practices at a site that has remained at the centre of a dispute between Hindus and Muslims for decades.