The Sambhal district administration has written to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for carbon dating of the Bhasma Shankar temple along with its well, officials said on Sunday, days after the temple, closed since 1978 following communal riots in the city, reopened. .
They said that devotees have started coming to the temple and that it is being guarded round the clock.
“This is the temple of Kartik Mahadev. A well has been found here. This is Amrit Kup. Security guards have been permanently posted here and CCTV cameras have also been installed. Puja has also started in the temple. There is encroachment here, it is being removed,’ said District Officer Rajendra Pensia.
“We have written to the ASI for carbon dating of the temple and the well,” he added.
Carbon dating is a method used to determine the age of archaeological artifacts from ancient sites.
Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar said that all roads leading to the temple have been covered by CCTV cameras and a control room has also been set up there.
“The temple will have round-the-clock security and permanent police has been deployed,” the SP said.
Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel have been deployed at the scene.
The Bhashma Shankar temple was reopened on Friday after the covered structure was hit during the anti-encroachment drive.
In terms of Re-opening of the temple, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said it would not emerge overnight and represented “our enduring heritage and the truth of our history”.
Mahant Acharya Vinod Shukla, priest of the temple, said that the priest would come and start worshiping.
Mohit Rastogi, a local resident, expressed gratitude for the re-opening of the temple.
After offering water to the Shivling and offering prayers, he said, ‘I had heard about this temple from my grandfather. “I thank the district administration for allowing us to reconnect with our heritage,” he added.
The temple is located in the Khaggu Sarai area which is one kilometer away from the Jama Masjid where violence erupted on November 24 in protest against a court-ordered survey of the mosque.
The temple has an idol of Hanuman and a Shivlinga. Locals claim that it has been closed since 1978 after communal riots displaced the local Hindu community.
There is also a well near the temple which the authorities plan to reopen.
On Saturday some residents shared their memories of the temple, many highlighting its importance to the community.
Vishnu Shankar Rastogi, the 82-year-old patron of the Nagar Hindu Mahasabha said, “I have been living in Khaggu Sarai since birth. After the riots of 1978, our community was forced to migrate from the area. This temple dedicated to our patriarch has been closed ever since.” Weeks after four people were killed in violence against a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid here, the administration has launched a campaign to control encroachment and power theft in the area surrounding the Mughal-era mosque.
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