Hanuman idol in MP stays put after four relocation attempts

A temple dedicated to Hanuman in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, has created a buzz over social media after repeated attempts to remove the idol failed, as the temple was pulled down for road widening.

The Khade Hanuman temple is located along the Kanthal Chauraha-Chhatri Chowk Road in Ujjain, where road-widening work is underway. The road work is underway as part of preparations for Simhastha 2028, when Ujjain is expected to see a big inflow of pilgrims. Simhastha is a major festival held in Ujjain, once every 12 years. It is one of the four Kumbh Mela gatherings, where millions of devotees visit Ujjain to take a holy dip in the Shipra River.

The festival is particularly associated with the worship of Lord Shiva and Ujjain’s temples.

The Ujjain Municipal Corporation and district administration had reportedly planned to safely relocate the idol at a new site near Tanki Chowk.

While much of the temple structure around the idol has been brought down, the Hanuman idol has remained in its original position. Officials and workers have reportedly made multiple attempts to shift it using heavy machinery, but without success.

Reportedly, four attempts over the last few days failed, following which the use of heavy machinery was halted. Authorities are now looking at scanning the idol’s base and surrounding structure before deciding how it can be safely moved.

The development has triggered considerable interest on social media. A video showing a large group of monkeys gathering near the site has also added to the buzz. Temple priest Mahesh Bairagi, speaking to a local television channel, said the repeated failures should be seen as a possible indication that the deity is meant to remain at the site.

“Baba [Lord Hanuman] is giving us signs every day that he wants to remain here. I humbly request the administration to understand these signs. Even if the idol still needs to be removed, I want the deity to be shifted safely, in the same form and manner as it is now. Until the administration can ensure its complete safety, no attempt should be made to move the idol,” Bairagi said.

Temple priest Bairagi also said the administration had initially approached the issue in a straightforward manner, but experts, including those associated with archaeology, have since suggested further examination before another attempt is made. The temple is believed to be around 170 years old, with local accounts linking its history to the period around 1857.

There are also claims that the idol could have older historical links, including to the Paramara period, though those claims have not been conclusively established.

For now, the idol remains at the site, protected under a temporary canopy as authorities await expert assessment.