VARANASI: The Siddheshwar Mahadev Temple, which was closed for decades in Madanpura area of Varanasi, was reopened on Wednesday with help of the district administration and police.
Officials handed over the temple keys to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Hindu organisations, as well as local Muslim residents, cooperated in ensuring peace while the temple was cleaned and locked again.
VHP functionaries said they would hold a meeting with organisations interested in taking care of the temple to finalise plans for the temple’s revival after Makar Sankranti.
Representatives from VHP and Sanatan Rakshak Dal and local Muslims were present with police and district administration personnel. “The decision to reopen the temple was taken by the administration after examining all documents, which clarified that it is a public temple and there was no dispute over its ownership,” said ADM (city) Alok Kumar.
He added that they had to break the lock since it was rusted. After the temple was cleaned, a new lock was put and its key was given to VHP’s city president Rajesh Mishra who has kept it at the local VHP office. Mishra said volunteers washed the temple and cleaned the shivlings with Ganga Jal.
