Sambhal administration reopens ancient temple locked since 1978 following communal riots

Ancient Bhasma Shankar Temple reopens in UP’s Sambhal, morning prayer performed

The Sambhal administration in Uttar Pradesh reopened the Bhasma Shankar Temple on Friday, which had been locked since 1978 following communal riots in the town. The temple, located near the Shahi Jama Masjid, was discovered during an anti-encroachment drive. The temple houses an idol of Lord Hanuman and a Shivling, and its reopening has brought a sense of revival to the local Hindu community. On Saturday, Locals gathered to offer prayers at a temple that has been reopened after 46 years.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vandana Mishra, leading a campaign against electricity theft in the region, stumbled upon the temple during an inspection. Upon noticing it, Mishra informed district authorities, and a decision was made to reopen the temple, which had been closed for decades. Locals confirmed that it had remained locked since the communal riots in 1978, which led to the displacement of the Hindu community in the area.

The temple, located in Khaggu Sarai, is just over a kilometer from the Shahi Jama Masjid in Kot Garvi. Residents, including 82-year-old Vishnu Shankar Rastogi, shared their personal connection to the temple. Rastogi, a patron of the Nagar Hindu Mahasabha, recalled that after the 1978 riots, around 25-30 Hindu families, including his own, were forced to leave the area, and the temple was locked since then. Rastogi called the temple an ancient site dedicated to the community’s Kulguru, known as Bhasma Shankar.

Sanjay Sankhydhar, a resident of Sambhal, expressed joy at the reopening, saying that the temple had been a place of solace and now, with its reopening, the local people could once again benefit from its virtues.

The temple’s reopening comes weeks after violent clashes erupted in Sambhal over the court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The violence led to four fatalities and several injuries, including among police personnel. In light of the recent tensions, the administration has been focused on tackling encroachments and illegal activities around the mosque area.

In other news, an imam from another mosque in Sambhal was fined Rs.2 lakh for allegedly using a loudspeaker at high volume. The imam was also directed to refrain from using the loudspeaker at such levels for the next six months.

For the people of Sambhal, the reopening of the Bhasma Shankar temple is more than just a headline. It’s a bittersweet reminder of the town’s turbulent history—and a step towards healing.

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