Author: Press Trust of India
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: January 20, 2004
Two days after erecting a temporary
structure near the controversial Bhojshala in Dhar, Hindu Jagaran Manch
on Tuesday installed the divine flame from the famous Sharada peeth at
Maihar in Satna district brought by a team of devotees.
Amid drum beats, blowing of conch
shells and chanting of hymns, the akhand jyoti was brought by a 60- member
team which had embarked upon the journey to Maihar on January 12 together
with a chariot designed on the pattern of Bhojshala.
The akhand jyoti was brought in
a grand procession into the city and people offered prayers even as buildings
were decorated with saffron colour and saffron flags adorned the houses
to welcome the flame which was later installed in the makeshift sheds built
at Moti Bagh square.
State coordinator of Hindu Jagaran
Manch, Radheshyam Yadav, claimed that both the Centre and the state government
are making sincere and serious efforts to bring the idol of Goddess Bagdevi
Saraswati, reportedly kept at a London Museum now, for worship here.
It would not be a tough job to bring
the idol in view of these efforts, he said, adding "now it is necessary
for the Hindu samaj to become conscious for early installation of saraswati
idol at bhojshala".
He said the akhand jyoti would keep
burning at the makeshift temple till the idol is brought from London and
installed at Bhojshala.
Akhand jyoti was welcomed
among others by local MLA Jaswan Singh Rathore, HJM district president
Arvind Kant Bordia and coordinator Gopal Sharma. Bhoomi Poojan for
the makeshift temple had been held on January 10.