The development comes in light of multiple abandoned or locked temples in various parts of Uttar Pradesh being reopened for prayers. Moradabad (UP): Decades after it was closed over communal violence in Moradabad, a temple in the Daulatabagh area has been reopened by local administration and authorities, according to officials. The development comes in light of multiple abandoned or locked temples in various parts of Uttar Pradesh being reopened for prayers. After 44 years, the temple was reopened on Monday, officials said. “On the administration’s orders, a team comprising police and municipal corporation staff began operations to reopen the temple. There has been no opposition or unrest, and the locals are cooperating in the effort,” Nagphani Police Inspector Sunil Ku… After the reopening, it was found that some temple idols were misplaced or missing, Kumar said. He added that local authorities are now overseeing the restoration work, ensuring the space is cleaned, repaired, and made ready for regular worship once…

In the series of reopening and restoration of closed Hindu temples in Uttar Pradesh, the district administration of Moradabad has reinstated a temple, thought to be a century old, which reportedly has been shut since 1980 due to the outbreak of communal violence in the city. The Gauri Shankar Temple is located in the predominantly Muslim region of Nagfani in the city. While carrying out restoration work, the authorities unearthed the temple’s inner sanctum, where they reportedly found some damaged idols of gods. Currently, renovation efforts are in progress, with the intention of returning the temple to its “original state”. Meanwhile, a considerable number of people assembled at the temple on Monday (30 December) to observe its recommencement. To avert any potential mishaps, law enforcement officers have been stationed at the location. Already, a complaint has been filed by a local alleging that he had faced “threats” each time he tried to “reopen the temple”. The whole situation started when a local named Seva Ram stated that his forefathers had been the priests and guardians of the temple. On 27 December, he lodged a complaint with the district administration and police and requested them to intervene. He further accused that an individual who supposedly bought the house adjacent to the temple three years prior, had illegally encroached upon the land. “In my complaint, I stated that the temple had been closed since 1980 after the death of my grandfather, Ganga Saran, who was murdered during the riots,” 41-year-old Seva Ram said. “My family, along with seven others (family), who lived near the temple, moved to a different location due to threats from residents of another community. After we left, the temple was abandoned,” he added. Upon receiving the complaint, Moradabad District Magistrate (DM) Anuj Singh instructed Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ram Mohan Meena to conduct an inspection of the site and carry out an investigation into the issue. “We consulted members of all communities, and there was a consensus that the temple should be reopened. After receiving their agreement, we proceeded with the process,” the SDM said on unlocking of the temple, which had been closed for a long time. “The inner sanctum was excavated. Inside, we discovered broken statues of deities, as well as the Shivalay (Shiva Parivar). Renovation work is currently underway, and efforts are being made to restore the temple to its original form,” he added. Seva Ram has assisted the district administration in their restoration efforts by supplying them with a supposed 1950 map of the temple,

Devotees throng Kali Mata Temple in Moradabad on first day of Shardiya NavratriA huge crowd of devotees gathered at the Kali Mata Temple in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, on the first day of Shardiya Navratri to offer prayers and seek blessings. The surge began early in the morning as worshippers queued up for darshan and rituals, marking the start of the nine-day Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Durga. Temples across the country also saw large turnouts, including Devkali Temple in Ayodhya and other major shrines in Delhi and Mumbai, with devotees participating in traditional aarti and offerings. The festival celebrates the divine feminine energy and is observed with rituals, devotional singing, and cultural traditions throughout its duration