Bhopal, Jan 18 (NationPress) The ongoing conflict surrounding the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, has escalated as Basant Panchami aligns with a Friday on January 23, 2026.

The Hindu Front for Justice has submitted an urgent petition to the Supreme Court requesting “exclusive” access for Hindus to conduct the Goddess Saraswati Puja throughout January 23.

This site, classified as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), is regarded by Hindus as an ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati), built by the Parmar king Raja Bhoja in the 11th century, while Muslims identify it as the Kamal Maula Mosque.

The petition demands a prohibition on any member of the Muslim community from offering namaz (prayer) that day, along with stringent security arrangements from the ASI and the state government, and a swift hearing of the principal case that awaits judgment in the apex court.

This application underscores a significant ambiguity in the ASI's order from April 7, 2003, which permits Hindus to worship every Tuesday and on Basant Panchami, while allowing Muslims to pray on Fridays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. However, the order does not address instances when Basant Panchami falls on a Friday, as it does this year.

Hindu organizations assert that Basant Panchami is deeply sacred in Sanatan Dharma, marking the birth anniversary of Goddess Saraswati, typically observed by continuous worship at the site. They argue that overlapping religious observances have historically resulted in chaos, conflicts, and even communal violence on such rare occasions.

The plea further contends that allowing Friday prayers without clarifying the religious status of the monument violates the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act. It stresses the long-standing tradition of Hindu worship at the complex and claims that the ASI's arrangement infringes upon exclusive rights to conduct puja on this significant day.

The broader dispute originates from historical claims; Hindus maintain that the structure was initially a center for Vedic learning and a Saraswati temple before its supposed destruction and conversion during medieval invasions, while Muslims uphold continuous worship at the mosque named after Maulana Kamaluddin Chishti.

On July 22, 2024, the Madhya Pradesh High Court declined to advance WP No. 10497/2022 related to the Bhojshala dispute, referencing the Supreme Court's interim order from April 1, 2024. The bench opted not to consider the ASI report or issue any operative orders.

The matter will be discussed only after the Supreme Court reaches a final decision or issues further directives.

With the main case—challenging the site's religious identity and ASI survey results—already pending in the Supreme Court (alongside other Places of Worship Act cases), this new petition highlights rising demands in light of the calendar overlap.

Local authorities in Dhar have stepped up security, deploying thousands of personnel to avert any untoward incidents on January 23.