Daily worship resumed at Asansol's Bastin Bazar Durga Mandir on Sunday, which coincided with Mother's Day, fulfilling a poll promise made during the election campaign, including by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to reopen the 75-year-old temple that had been closed for regular puja since 2009.
Background of the Temple Closure
For over a decade and a half, the temple remained open only during Durga Puja, Lakshmi Puja, and Kali Puja, staying shut for the rest of the year amid legal disputes. A case was pending in the Calcutta High Court, and there were allegations that court directives to reopen the temple had been ignored.
Post-Election Developments
After the May 4 election results, around 20,000 people visited the temple to offer prayers. Local residents came together to clean the premises. Trustee Sanjay Agarwal of the Sri Sri Durga Mata Charitable Trust stated that following discussions with police, a notice has been posted allowing devotees to offer prayers for two and a half hours each morning and evening.
Political Reactions
Newly elected MLA Krishnendu Mukherjee remarked that daily worship had been suspended to appease certain people for the sake of vote-bank politics despite a long tradition of evening lamp-lighting at the temple. He added that communal harmony in the area would be protected and that local traders would face no disruption.
The reopening marks a significant milestone for the local Hindu community, who had long awaited the restoration of regular worship at this historic temple.
