Devi Saraswati Idol Installed at Bhojshala Sanctum; Posters Outside Ban Entry of Non-Hindus After High Court Verdict.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Dhar, Madhya Pradesh | May 18, 2026:: A formal worship ceremony was held at the Bhojshala complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on Sunday, marking the first-ever installation of an idol of Goddess Saraswati inside the sanctum sanctorum of the disputed monument following a prolonged period of litigation. The development came days after the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared Bhojshala to be a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and permitted unrestricted Hindu access to the complex.

The Bhojshala complex, originally established by the 11th-century Paramara king Bhoja, later became the subject of conflict following the construction of the Kamal Maula Mosque during the medieval period. Reports also suggest that the original idol of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati) is currently housed in the British Museum in London.

The ceremony was organised by the Bhojshala Utsav Samiti and the Bhojshala Mukti Yagna Samiti, groups that have been conducting religious programmes at the site since 2003. Outside the complex, posters put up by the organisers announced a ban on the entry of non-Hindus, citing security concerns. According to reports, daily worship has now begun at Bhojshala under the supervision of designated priests.

“Entry for non-Hindus is prohibited at the Bhojshala due to security purposes. Only those who arrive wearing a tilak and draped in a saffron scarf will be granted entry,” said Gopal Sharma, a member of the Bhojshala Utsav Samiti.

The day’s rituals began at sunrise with prayers offered to Goddess Vagdevi, another name for Saraswati, followed by a special aarti at 11:45 am. Organisers said the premises were purified using Gangajal (holy water from the Ganges) and cow urine before the ceremonies commenced. An eternal flame from a nearby temple was ceremonially installed inside the sanctum.

A large number of devotees gathered at the complex during the event. Union minister Savitri Thakur led the hoisting of a saffron flag at the site in accordance with the revised guidelines issued by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) after the High Court verdict.

High Court Declares Bhojshala a Saraswati Temple

The developments follow a landmark ruling delivered on Friday by the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which held that the Bhojshala complex is a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The court observed that the Centre and the ASI would have the authority to decide matters related to the administration and management of the site.

The bench also quashed the ASI’s April 7, 2003 order that had allowed Muslims to offer Friday namaz inside the complex while permitting Hindus to worship on Tuesdays. Relying on findings from an ASI survey report, the court concluded that the religious character of the 11th-century monument was that of a temple of Goddess Vagdevi.

The court further stated that members of the Muslim community, who identify the structure as the Kamal Maula Mosque, could approach the state government for the allotment of separate land for the construction of a mosque in Dhar district.

ASI Grants Unrestricted Access to Hindus

Acting on the High Court order, the Archaeological Survey of India issued revised guidelines on Saturday granting Hindus unrestricted access to the Bhojshala complex for worship and related activities.

“The High Court quashed restrictions previously imposed by the Director General of ASI that limited Hindu worship rights within the complex while permitting Muslim prayers,” the ASI order stated. “The Hindu community shall have unrestricted access to the Bhojshala Complex.”

Officials quoting the ASI order said Bhojshala historically functioned as a centre of learning and research in Sanskrit language, grammar, and literature in addition to being a temple. The order noted that unrestricted access was being granted in connection with the “ancient practice of learning and worship of Goddess Saraswati.”

Political Reactions

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav welcomed the court’s ruling and said the BJP-led state government was committed to restoring Bhojshala to its “former glory.”

“It will be developed to enable devotees from across the state and nation to seek the blessings of Goddess Vagdevi,” Yadav said.

Former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, however, questioned the implications of the judgment. “The High Court’s order was ambiguous. The monument is protected under the ASI and there is legally no provision for conducting worship,” he said.

Historical and Communal Significance

The Bhojshala complex has remained a longstanding point of contention between Hindu and Muslim groups for decades. Hindus regard the site as an ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, while Muslims consider it the Kamal Maula Mosque.

The latest court verdict and subsequent ASI order are expected to significantly alter the management and religious practices at the ASI-protected monument, potentially reshaping the long-running dispute surrounding the site.