Seven-meter Hanuman statue unveiled at Richards Bay temple

The controversy surrounding the standing Hanuman temple and its idol, established amidst road widening work in Ujjain, is no longer just a local matter. Due to various claims and videos going viral regarding attempts to remove the idol on social media, this statue has become a topic of discussion across the country. Some people described it as a matter of faith, while others linked the idol's inability to be displaced to a miracle. However, behind all these claims lie their own realities and the administration's perspective.

On Friday, upon visiting the Khade Hanuman Temple near Chhatri Chowk, a different scenario emerged beyond the dispute. Long queues were lined up outside the temple, and these queues were not only filled with residents of Ujjain. A family from Maharashtra, people from Delhi, a woman from Odisha, and devotees from Bihar were also present. This meant that people from various parts of the country were reaching Ujjain to have darshan of Khade Hanuman.

For the local people, faith in Khade Hanuman is nothing new, and the significance of this idol has been long-standing. However, in recent days, the most attention-grabbing aspect outside the temple was the presence of devotees from other states. It was natural to ask what exactly drew people from thousands of kilometers away to see this idol.

First, three young women who were residents of Delhi and worked in an IT company in Gurugram were spoken to. They had originally come to see Mahakal in Ujjain, but continuous reels of Khade Hanuman appearing on social media increased their curiosity. After seeing Mahakal, they decided to go directly to the Khade Hanuman Temple. Thus, the discussion happening on social media did not remain just a video or post for them, but led them to the temple.

A hotel receptionist mentioned that a family from Maharashtra was also found in the temple queue. When asked how they reached to see Khade Hanuman, their answer was different from social media. The family stated that the receptionist at the hotel where they stayed informed them about this idol. They were told that there had been an attempt to remove the idol, but it could not be removed. This curiosity led them to the temple.

Upon researching online, mentions of Roshan Chopra, a Chartered Accountant from Delhi, and his family in the context of Khade Hanuman were found everywhere. He mentioned that his visit to Ujjain was scheduled about five days prior. When he started searching for places to visit in Ujjain online, the Khade Hanuman Temple was mentioned almost everywhere. The videos circulating on social media, television news, and the continuous discussion about the idol further increased their curiosity. Consequently, after seeing Mahakal, their next destination was also the Khade Hanuman Temple.

The story of the devotees from Odisha and Bihar was similar. Priyanka Gupta, who came from Odisha and was in the queue, was also interviewed. She said that she has been a devotee of Lord Hanuman since childhood. When she learned through social media that there was a discussion about removing this idol in Ujjain, she decided to come here. Her wish was not just to have darshan, but she wanted this idol to remain in place. Ashish Tiwari from Bihar also supports this view, believing that the Khade Hanuman idol should remain in its current location. One thing was common among all these people during the conversations, and that was the influence of social media.

In Ujjain, amid preparations for the Mahakumbh Singhasth 2028, a dispute arose regarding attempts to dismantle the Hanuman statue located on the road due to street widening. After parts of the fence and the temple building were dismantled, efforts were made over three days to move the Bajangbali statue to another location, but it was claimed that the statue could not be moved.

In response to this situation, the district administration issued an official clarification, stating that no attempts to dismantle or relocate the statue had been made so far.

Currently, work is underway to widen the road from Kantal Chorahi to Chhatri Chowk, which is part of the bustling old part of the city. These measures are being taken as part of improving the transport system and organizing internal city routes in view of the upcoming Singhastha 2028. During these works, the Hanuman temple building, which is about 170 years old, turned out to be in the area affected by the road expansion. The administration and the municipal team dismantled part of the fence and the temple building, but the situation changed regarding the Hanuman statue itself, which is inside the temple. It was asserted that the statue could not be shifted.

As the situation escalated, the number of pilgrims in the temple complex increased, and political parties began commenting on the issue.

Local residents attribute this phenomenon to a divine miracle of Hanuman, which has led to an increase in temple visitors. Spiritual communities also visited the temple on Wednesday for prayers. Saints protested against moving the statue elsewhere and called for a solution through dialogue with the administration. Mahant Raghavendra Das Maharaj, a disciple of Nantegopal Das, associated with Shri Ram Janmabhoomi, stated that God should not be repeatedly tried to be lifted. He noted that three attempts already constitute a sign, and the statue should remain in its original place if it is considered a miracle.

Mahant Vinit Giri Maharaj from Gadipati Mahaneeramohi Akhade also arrived at the temple. He emphasized that the administration must respect public sentiment and suggested resolving the problem through communication and dialogue. The saints also noted that development is important, but it should not be built on destruction. They added that currently, the temple is characterized not by chaos, but by curiosity, with a large number of pilgrims coming for worship.

In one group of devotees within the temple complex, the Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarkand were recited.

Congress leaders and activists held a demonstration against the alleged plan to remove the statue. Participants included MP Mahesh Parmar, former MLA Dileep Singh Gurjar, and city Congress party president Mukesh Bhatti, along with hundreds of activists who came to the Hanuman temple carrying saffron flags. Ramdhun was sung, and Hanuman was worshipped, followed by the recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa. Congress leaders accused the administration of hasty actions and demanded that the statue remain in its current location.