Midnight Puja Resumes Inside Cellar Of Gyanvapi Mosque Following Court Order

The puja rituals commenced in the cellar of the Gyanvapi Masjid on Thursday, following the court's permission granted the previous day in the 'Vyas Ka Tekhana.' This marked a significant development in the ongoing legal dispute concerning the mosque located adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Expressing their joy and emotions, a devotee mentioned, "Every day, we gather here at 3:00 am for darshan... The court's order has filled us with immense happiness, and our joy knows no bounds."

Advocate Sohan Lal Arya remarked, "Today is a moment of great pride for us. The court's unprecedented decision yesterday... The arrangements have been made, but the opening of Vyas Ka Tekhana for devotees is still pending."

As for the background of the case, the order from Judge A K Vishvesha followed the public release of an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report on the mosque complex. The ASI survey, mandated by the same court in connection with a related case, suggested that the mosque was constructed during Aurangzeb's rule, built upon the remains of a Hindu temple. The court's decision on Wednesday was based on the plea filed by Shailendra Kumar Pathak, who asserted that his maternal grandfather, priest Somnath Vyas, conducted prayers until December 1993. Advocate Yadav explained that the puja was discontinued during the tenure of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav after the demolition of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.