4 min readMumbaiMay 25, 2023 01:31 PM IST
First published on: May 17, 2023 at 02:32 AM IST
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Tuesday announced a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after trustees of the famous Trimbakeshwar Mahadev temple in Nashik district lodged a police complaint, alleging that a group of Muslims forced their way into the temple on May 13.
The announcement led to claims and counter claims from both communities. While local Muslim community leaders expressed surprise over the government’s decision, saying they were only following a decades-old ritual – of showing loban or frankincense from the temple entrance steps – a section of the temple trustees denied knowledge of any such tradition.
The local Muslim community also denied the allegation that there was no attempt to forcibly enter the temple or an attempt to offer a chadar inside the temple.
“There was no attempt to enter the temple or put any chadar inside the temple premises. Muslims in Trimbakeshwar have for generations been following the practice of sending the fumes of frankincense from the steps of the temple premises during an annual gathering at a nearby dargah. This practice has been going on for decades and the local Hindu community never objected. We are surprised that this issue has now been raked up and it has taken a communal turn,” Avez Kokni, former president of the Trimbakeshwar Nagar Parishad, told The Indian Express.
Trimbakeshwar Mahadev temple, considered one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, situated 28 km from Nashik city. It is one of the few temples in the state which explicitly states that non-Hindus cannot enter its premises.
A town of around 16,000 residents, where Muslims constitute less than 4 per cent of the population, Trimbakeshwar also has a dargah of Hazrat Gulab Shah Wali, which is centuries old. Every year, the local Muslims during the Urs hold a ceremony called Sandal. A procession is taken out – passing in front of the temple – towards the dargah.
“Every year, Muslims stand on the first step of the temple at the entrance and send the fragrant smoke rising from the burning frankincense inside the premises. This has been done for years as a mark of respect. The procession then moves toward the dargah. On Saturday, too, a similar thing happened. At no time was an attempt made to storm the temple,” said Avez Kokni.
Those who participated in the procession said only four or five among more than a hundred participants went till the temple steps to conduct the ritual.
Those who participated in the ritual, who were called by the police, submitted videos of previous years where a similar ritual was conducted at the entrance of the temple. “We were called by the police. I told them that I remember doing this ritual since I was a child. My forefathers did the same. However, if we have hurt anyone’s feelings I apologise,” said Salim Sayyed, one of the men who participated in the ritual.
A day after the ritual, on May 14, the temple trustees filed the police complaint. After outrage on social media, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the SIT probe.
Nashik (Rural) SP Shahji Umap said, “Some people had come to the gate entrance to offer dhoop. Security guards stopped them at the entrance as the time for taking darshan had ended. They returned from the gate. The members of the Muslim community have now said that if what they did hurt anyone’s religious feelings they will not repeat the act.”
A section of the temple trustees denied knowledge of any tradition of the Muslims outside the temple premises. “We maintain a record of everything and there is no mention of such practice in our temple records…. Just because they managed to do it once, does not become practice,” said Pankaj Bhutada, a temple trustee. The Trimbakeshwar police have registered an FIR against four persons who organised and participated in the procession.
The Trimbakeshwar temple, where the Jyotirlinga is worshipped, is an important pilgrimage centre for Hindus. (Express File Photo) 
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