Heavy security deployed around Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi after district court’s decision

A thick security cordon was erected around the Gyanvapi mosque complex on Friday, following the Muslim side’s move to the Allahabad High Court to challenge a Varanasi court ruling permitting Hindu devotees to offer prayers inside the disputed ‘Vyas Ka Tekhana’ area of the mosque. In a historic ruling on Wednesday, a Varanasi court permitted Hindus to offer prayers within the Gyanvapi mosque complex’s “Vyas Ka Tekhana” section. The district administration was ordered by the court to make the required plans within the following seven days.

“Toda, the basement of Vyas-ji was opened and the crowd of (Hindu) devotees has been swelling ever since. This moment of happiness has arrived after 31 years of waiting. We are all happy. Till now, only the priests of Vishwanath temple could worship (in the disputed area) but now, there’s every possibility that new priests will be appointed,” Sohan Lal Arya, a petitioner from the Hindu side.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, one of the petitioners on the Hindu side, said, “The puja will start within seven days. Everyone is welcome to hold prayers here.”

The mosque’s Vyas Ka Tehkhana (basement) had its barricades taken down on Thursday, and the daily puja and arti were carried out first thing in the morning. According to Jain, a bhog was offered at noon and Mangla Arti was performed at 3.30 in the morning.

“Timings for Aarti at Vyas cellar. Daily 5 aarti — Mangla- 3:30 am, Bhog- 12 pm, Apranh- 4 pm, Sanykaal- 7 pm, Shayan- 10:30 pm. 2 done so far,” Jain informed through a post on X.

Akhlaq Ahmed, a Muslim lawyer, commented on the Varanasi court ruling permitting devotees to pray in the contested basement, saying “The order overlooked the Advocate Commissioner report of 2022, the ASI report, and the ruling of 1937 which was in our favour. The Hindu side did not provide any evidence to support their claim that prayers were held before 1993. There is no such idol at the site.”