Two idols were cracked at the bottom which were found at Bhasma Shankar temple well that has been reopened on 13 Dec after 46 years. The temple which later would be called as Shri Kartik Mahadev Temple had been shut down since 1978 because of the riots. Authorities have had to involve the ASI for carbon dating to date the age of the temple and the Amrit Koop well.
The reopening happened during an anti-encroachment drive during which the covered structure was unveiled. While the Shivling and a Lord Hanuman statue are found in the temple and the well provided idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Parvati which were damaged as found in the 15-20ft depth. The local Sub Divisional Magistrate Vandana Mishra and other officers are investigating these discoveries.
According to the District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya, the importance of the temple cannot be overemphasized due to its archeological value as a history of the area. Some roads to this temple are secured through CCTV cameras, while Physical Protected/ Prohibited by PAC Security Forces.
Temple priest Mahant Acharya Vinod Shukla said that people have started coming to pray in this temple also. People extended their appreciation to the reopening decision as one of the devotees, Mohit Rastogi, said that people around the area had heard about the temple only as a legend.
The temple is in close proximity of the Shahi Jama Masjid where violence was reported on 24′November during a protest against a courts ordered survey. According to the sources, the Hindus were driven away from the city in 1978 and the temple was shut down.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the restoration of the temple signified continuation of ‘our rich tradition and culture’ which is in line with measures to restore history and archeology.
