Amid Rain & Protests, Ancient Khade Hanuman Idol Relocated In MP’s Ujjain Under Heavy Police Cover

In Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, the ancient Khade Hanuman idol was moved amid rain and protests on Friday evening, under the watchful eyes of a heavy police force. However, the Taksali Ganesh idol could not be relocated. The Municipal Corporation (UMC) aimed to shift the idols from Khade Hanuman Mandir and Taksali Ganesh Mandir to Tanki Chowk. The residents have requested the renaming of Tanki Chowk to Hanuman Chauraha in honor of the idol.

Previously, an attempt to remove the temple on August 30 was thwarted due to public opposition. During the protest, supporters of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal blocked the highway, and a large gathering at the temple premises recited the Hanuman Chalisa.

The relocation of the Khade Hanuman and Taksali Ganesh temples, located within the Sati Gate-Chhatri Chowk road-widening zone, was attempted once more on Thursday night. But the operation had to be halted due to the rain. It resumed on Friday afternoon. The process of safeguarding the Khade Hanuman idol with plastic continued until 1:30 am on Thursday night.

Worship at the neighboring Taksali Ganesh Temple proceeded as usual. The construction of the temple near the water tank was underway, with the walls built but the roof yet to be installed. The rain persisted throughout Friday morning. UMC workers commenced excavation around the Khade Hanuman Temple on Thursday afternoon, and the sewer pipeline excavation near the Taksali Ganesh Temple was already in progress.

The Khade Hanuman Temple priest, Mahesh Bairagi, stated that the UMC's documents had been forwarded for legal examination. "If legal rights over the temple are granted, we have no objection to its relocation near the water tank," he expressed. The priest's family at the Taksali Ganesh Temple also agreed to cooperate if the documents were found to be in order.