Ujjain tried to move 170-year-old Hanuman idol; 4 attempts failed
Authorities in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, have repeatedly failed to move a 170-year-old revered Hanuman idol during a road-widening project, despite using heavy machinery. The incident has drawn crowds of devotees, and archaeologists are now being consulted to determine a safe method for relocation without damaging the idol.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the complex challenges faced by urban development projects when they intersect with deeply held religious beliefs and historical artifacts, potentially leading to social and cultural conflicts and requiring sensitive solutions.
A road-widening project in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain has run into an unusual hurdle after repeated attempts to shift a revered Hanuman idol failed. Over four days, the administration and municipal authorities tried multiple times to move the standing idol from the site of the historic Khade Hanuman temple, but it remained in place.The development has drawn crowds of devotees to the temple even as authorities work out how to proceed without damaging the idol.According to a report by Amar Ujala, the temple falls within the road-widening work being carried out between Kanthal Square and Chhatri Chowk. The temple structure and sanctum have already been dismantled, but the idol has not been moved.
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