Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency, witnessed a historic moment on Thursday when a building was built in Gyanvapi, a day after a local court ordered A prayer service was held in the southern cellar of the group.
This is the first time that a puja is held at the Gyanvapi compound after 31 years. The mosque has four “Tehkhanas” or cellars.
The Varanasi district judge on Wednesday allowed the puja to be held in the cellar on the south side of the Gyanvapi Masjid, directing the authorities to arrange for a priest nominated by the complainant Shailendra Kumar Pathak Vyas and the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust to worship the idol in the mosque. 7 days.
The court order was based on a petition submitted by Shailendra Kumar Pathak Vyas to the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which manages the Gyanvapi Masjid. According to the lawsuit, Father Somnath Vyas performed prayers there until authorities closed the crypt in 1993. Shailendra Kumar Pathak is the grandson of Somnath Vyas.
“The Hindu side is allowed to perform prayers at ‘Vyas Ji Ka Tehkhana’. The district administration has to make arrangements within seven days,” said Vishnu Shankar Jain, Vyas’ lawyer.
In the early hours of Thursday, the Varanasi district administration made elaborate arrangements to ensure that the court order was adhered to. Jitendra Nath Vyas, a member of the Vyas family, said: “I am very grateful to the judiciary for allowing us to offer prayers at the Gianwapi complex.”
Jitendra Nath Vyas said it was more of an “emotional moment” for him because after 31 years, his family was able to offer prayers at the estate. “We were in tears. This is an emotional moment not only for our family but for all Sanatani people.” Jitendra Nath Vi said at around 12:30 am on Thursday Jitendra Nath Vyas said this while performing a puja in the Tehkhana (cellar) of Gyanvapi Mosque.
Jitendra Nath Vyas said the prayers started amid strict security arrangements in the presence of Divisional Commissioner Kaushal Raj Sharma, Superintendent of Police Mutha Ashok Jain and District Magistrate S Rajlingam. “The puja started around 12:30 noon. We first started with ‘shuddhikaran’ in the entire basement area of Ganga Jal. Subsequently, the puja was conducted in the basement for almost an hour. In fact, it was a blessing for all of us. It’s a historic day,” said Vyas, who participated in the puja at the Gyanvapi complex.
The puja is followed by distribution of ‘prasad’, he added.
The Vyas family are believed to be the hereditary owners of the southern cellar of the mosque, where the petitioner’s maternal grandfather offered prayers to Lord Ganesha, Hanuman, Nandi and other gods.
After the Babri Masjid was demolished in December 1992, all four cellars of the mosque were sealed due to security concerns. A permanent barrier was also erected at the time.
Akhlaque Ahmad, counsel for the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, said the request was barred by the Places of Religion (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which locks in the religious character of holy sites that existed on August 15, 1947, except in Ayodhya . “This cellar is part of the Gyanvapi Masjid. Therefore, worship cannot be performed. Therefore, pujas should not be allowed,” he said.
Ahmed said he would challenge the order in the High Court.
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