ASI order over performing rituals in temples in Devgiri Fort sparks row
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jun 27: An Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) order discouraging performing pooja in temples located in the Devgiri (Daulatabad) Fort complex in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district has drawn criticism from different quarters, including the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT).
According to the order, performing pooja or any other rituals in these temples of the centuries-old fortified citadel protected by the ASI will be a breach of law.
As per the June 4 order which surfaced on social media platforms on Thursday, priest of Bharat Mata Temple located on the fort's foothills, Raju Kanjune, has been stopped from performing rituals.
Being a non-living monument, permitting rituals in any of the temples located in the fort's premises will be a breach of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, according to the ASI which functions under the Union Ministry of Culture.
Two other Hindu shrines -- Sankat Vinayak Ganesh Temple and Janardan Swami Temple -- are located top the fort.
The ASI order has sparked a controversy with Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council Ambadas Danve of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maratha quota activist Vinod Patil questioning the move.
When contacted, a senior ASI official told PTI, "The Devgiri Fort is a non-living monument and there is no permission for performing pooja here. No priest can perform rituals, but tourists can visit the fort freely."
Danve, in a post on X, said pooja is being performed in Bharat Mata Temple, Sankat Vinayak Ganesh Temple and Janardan Swami Temple for years and long before the fort came under the ASI jurisdiction.
"Then how is the fort a non-living monument?" he questioned.
He sought to know if the central government will impose restrictions on Ganesh Temple, where yearly provision of rituals was made during Peshwas (medieval-era ministers of Maratha empire), and 'dindi' (procession) that comes to Janardan Swami Temple every year in 'Margashirsh' (ninth month of Hindu calendar).
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also sought to know if the same kind of curbs will be imposed on the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb located in Khultabad in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
Maratha quota activist Patil said, "Bharat Mata Temple was established by freedom fighters after the region was freed from Nizam and pooja is being done here since 1948. There are many ASI sites where a holiday is declared for the sake of a specific religion. The state government should intervene and resolve the issue."
Co-convener of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) Swapnil Joshi said "Bharat Mata is being worshipped in the Devgiri Fort prior to independence. So the entire fort cannot be a non-living monument. Deities here are being worshipped much before the ASI came into existence.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
It's going to take time to bridge the gap: BCCI Prez on India's T20 team without Rohit, Virat
Bridgetown (PTI): BCCI President Roger Binny says it will take another two-three years for the Indian T20 team to "come into its own" again given the void that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's international retirement from the format will create.
Rohit, 37, and Virat, 35, called it quits from T20Is after playing pivotal roles in India's second world triumph in the format here. The 2007 champions defeated South Africa by seven runs in a high-voltage summit clash on Saturday to end their painful 11-year wait for an ICC trophy.
"There is so much talent in the IPL. Lot of cricketers are coming through but it is going to take some time to bridge the gap (after retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20Is)," Binny said in a media interaction after the final.
"They have contributed so much. It's going to take time. We will probably see in the next two-three years, the team coming back into it's own without them," he added.
Rohit leaves T20Is with 4231 runs from 159 matches, having made five hundreds and 32 fifties.
In 125 T20I matches, Kohli scored 4188 runs at an average of 48.69 with 122 being his highest. That was his only T20 century - coming against Afghanistan in September 2022.
Both will continue to be active in the IPL and the ODI and Test formats internationally.
Binny, who was a part of the 1983 ODI World Cup title win, said that maiden World Cup elevated India from underdogs to contenders and it has not changed thanks to the large talent pool.
"In 1983, we went as underdogs. But after that, that tag was taken off us. Whenever we go into World Cup, people expect India to win. No one is taking us lightly anymore," he said.
The just-concluded mega-event marks the end of head coach Rahul Dravid's tenure. Speculation is rife that former opener Gautam Gambhir will take over from him but Binny chose to keep mum on the matter.
"Nothing concrete has come yet. Gautam Gambhir has a lot of experience. He has worked with teams. He played Test matches, ODIs, T20s. Let's see," he said.
