Muslim mob enters Machhindranath temple, disrupt aarti by shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’, attack policemen

Every year Hindu rituals are worshipped at Macchindranath temple, especially during  Magh Purnima day. Also an elaborate aarti is organised inside the temple. To disrupt the ongoing aarti performed by Hindu devotees, about 50 to 60 Muslim fanatics stormed into the ancient temple of Machhindranath perched atop the Malang Gad fort and chanted “Allahu Akbar.”

According to the report, on March 28, Hindu devotees were performing the traditional aarti (Hindu religious ritual of worship) when a large group of Muslims stormed the Machhindranath temple and attempted to destroy the proceedings. The enraged mob yelled “Allahu Akbar” and shoved Hindus in the temple, attempting to prevent them from performing their annual ritual.

The video of the altercation has since gone viral on the internet. Scores of Muslims can be seen in the video intimidating Hindu devotees into not performing their rituals while shouting “Allahu Akbar.”

Every year, Machindranath’s devotees embark on a religious pilgrimage known as the Magh Pournima Shrimalang Yatra to the Malang Gad fort to pay their respects to Machhindranath. This year’s yatra, however, was canceled due to a coronavirus outbreak.

Annual bath, palanquin, gandhlepan, naivedya, and maha aarti were all permitted in the presence of 50 devotees, including government officials and other dignitaries, according to government rules.

However, this did not sit well with the fanatics in the region and they hatched a plan to disrupt the aarti. As soon as the Hindu organizations came to know about this, they informed the police about it. Police allowed only seven Hindu devotees to enter the temple for Aarti, citing coronavirus restrictions. Just five minutes after the aarti commenced, a violent mob of 50-60 Muslim fanatics entered the temple and shouted slogans of “Allahu Akbar”, asking Hindus to stop performing their rituals.

Hindu organisations complained to the Hill Road police station against the rabble-rousers who had burst into the temple and attempted to disrupt the aarti. However, the police assured that they would only investigate without filing a case. The Hindu groups gave an ultimatum of 4 days to the police to investigate the incident and arrest the perpetrators, failing which they would launch a widespread agitation.

The incident took place at 8 pm on 28 March. It is being reported when the police tried to intervene, the members of the Muslim mob grabbed the collar of the policemen and pushed them. Four people have been arrested in the case so far.

Hindu devotees believe the place is the resting place of Baba Machhindranath of the Nath sect and that the Peshwas had entrusted a Brahmin family named Ketkar to perform the puja there. Every year Hindu rituals are worshipped here, especially on Magh Purnima when a grand aarti is organised.