Protests by both Senas over temple entry during Bakrid prayers trigger tension at Durgadi Fort

According to police, temporary restrictions are imposed as part of routine security arrangements during Bakrid prayers. This year, however, supporters of both the Senas opposed the restrictions and demanded entry to the temple during the prayer period.

The temple remained closed for around 30 minutes during the Bakrid prayers on Thursday morning, following which protests were held near the fort.

Shiv Sena (UBT) and Hindutva groups staged demonstrations against temporary temple closures during Bakrid prayers. (Express Photo by Deepak Joshi)

Shiv Sena (UBT) members, led by party functionary Vijay Salvi, staged a demonstration at Lal Chowki area and performed maha aarti and “Ghantanaad (bell-ringing)”, while several workers carrying saffron flags and bells gathered near the fort, demanding unrestricted entry to the temple.

Criticising Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Salvi said that despite being in power and claiming to follow the legacy of late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe, the Shinde-led government failed to ensure unrestricted entry for Hindu devotees at the fort temple during Bakrid prayers.

“Why should Hindu devotees be stopped from entering the temple? We are opposing this selective restriction,” Salvi told reporters during the protest.

Workers from Shiv Sena led by Shinde and several Hindutva organisations also gathered near the fort, raising and raised slogans demanding access to the temple during the prayer period.

After the prayers, members of the Muslim community raised slogans, while groups from Hindu organisations recited the Hanuman Chalisa near the area.

Police detained Mahesh Patil after he warned the administration against allowing namaz on roads and restricting the entry of Hindu devotees to the temple. Patil had said that BJP workers would recite the Hanuman Chalisa and Durga Stotra if entry to the temple was blocked.

“If roads can be used for namaz, Hindu devotees should also be allowed to pray at the temple,” Patil said before being detained. Police officials said Patil was shifted from his residence before the protests intensified in the area.

The Durgadi Fort issue has remained politically sensitive for decades and is closely associated with late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe, considered the political mentor of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The nearly 450-year-old fort in Kalyan houses both a temple and a mosque and has remained at the centre of competing religious claims for decades.

In 1986, Dighe launched the “Ghantanaad” agitation against restrictions imposed during Eid prayers at the fort. Since then, Sena workers have continued the annual bell-ringing protest at the site during Bakrid.

The dispute has also seen prolonged litigation, with both Hindu and Muslim groups approaching courts over ownership rights and religious claims linked to the fort premises.