Vadodara temple tradition discontinued since 1996: 150-year-old cannon test-fired ahead of court decision on prohibitory order

The cannon was seized by the District Collector in 1996 after receiving a “negative report” from the police authority following alleged injuries sustained by two persons during the 1995 procession on the occasion of Dev Diwali. (Express Photo By Bhupendra Rana)

The Vadodara civil court had appointed two advocates as court commissioners to supervise the exercise in the presence of an Assistant Commissioner of Police and a police Inspector of the Raopura police station, who also provided a security arrangement for the exercise. One of the two court commissioners said, “During the testing, the cannon fired smoothly about 46 feet away. The sound was similar to a ‘sutli bomb’ burst during Diwali. There was gunpowder that flew out up to about five inches from the top of the cannon but apart from that there was no other part that was dislodged or scattered during the firing. We will submit the report to the court.”

According to officials, the cannonballs for the test firing were procured from Porbandar after following the “due process” of law. Saturday’s exercise was undertaken after a direction of the civil court in Vadodara, where the chief priest of the temple, Janardhan Dave, has been involved in litigation with the authorities since 1996. The cannon was seized by the District Collector in 1996 after receiving a “negative report” from the police authority following alleged injuries sustained by two persons during the 1995 procession on the occasion of Dev Diwali. Police had opined that the cannon was “dangerous” in view of public safety. Dev Diwali is celebrated on Purnima Tithi of Kartik month of the Hindu calendar every year.

One of the two court commissioners said, “During the testing, the cannon fired smoothly about 46 feet away. The sound was similar to a ‘sutli bomb’ burst during Diwali. (Express Photo By Bhupendra Rana)

Although the cannon was returned to the temple, it was not permitted to be fired during the Dev Diwali processions thereon. Earlier this month, the Additional Civil judge of Vadodara had ordered the cannon to be tested on January 27, in the presence of a team of experts tasked with submission of a report to the court on the next hearing date of January 30, when the court will decide if the temple should be granted permission to fire the cannon again.

Dave, who had vowed to walk barefeet until the prohibition was lifted, said on Saturday, “I am happy that the cannon is working, as I had expected it to be. It is now up to the experts, who have to submit the report and I can only hope and pray that years of my devotion and prayers will be answered soon.” He added that close to 1.5 kg of ammunition was purchased to conduct the test, under which nine explosions were undertaken from the cannon at Navlakhi Ground.

“The brass cannon is about 180 years old and has been previously tested in 2000 and 2010… If the court rules a verdict in our favour, we will seek permission for a victory procession and await the next Dev Diwali to fire the cannon after 29 years…,” Dave added.