UP: Closed since 1992 Ayodhya incident, Shiv Temple reopens in Muzaffarnagar after 31 years

financialexpress.com:

A Shiv temple in Ludhawala, a predominantly Muslim locality in Muzaffarnagar under the jurisdiction of Kotwali police station, reopened on Monday with a havan ceremony. Local Muslims welcomed the Hindu devotees, showering flowers on their procession as a gesture of harmony.

The temple, built in 1971, had been closed since the communal tensions following the Ayodhya incident in 1992, which led to Hindu families migrating from the area and taking the idols and shivling with them.

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City Magistrate Vikas Kashyap confirmed the peaceful conduct of the reopening event and associated rituals. “All functions in the temple were conducted without any disturbance. The atmosphere was cordial and Hindu activists, led by Swami Yashvir Maharaj, returned in a peaceful manner,” Kashyap told PTI.

In a display of interfaith harmony, local Muslims greeted the procession with flowers as it moved towards the temple. Swami Yashvir Maharaj led the purification ceremony, performing a havan and other rituals. “This is a significant moment for us. After years of closure, the Shiv temple has reopened following a proper purification process,” he remarked. The swami had announced the reopening date last week.

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To ensure peace in the area, the district administration implemented elaborate security measures, including police patrolling during the event.

Meanwhile, about 200 km away in Sambhal, excavations are ongoing following the reopening of the Bhasma Shankar Temple on December 13, which had been closed for over 46 years.

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