Namaz offered on Bakri Eid at Durgadi fort in Kalyan, Dist. Thane

Shiv Sena’s ‘Ghantanad’ protest as entry to Durgadi Devi Temple denied

Thane – Namaz is regularly offered in the mosque situated on Durgadi fort area of Kalyan; however, on the day of Bakri Eid, entry to Hindus to Shri Durgadi Devi Temple is prohibited. In protest against this prohibition, Shiv Sena and Thackeray faction activists held a ‘Ghantanad’ (bell-ringing) protest outside Durgadi fort on June 17. The protesters have vowed to continue their agitation until they are allowed entry into the temple.

1. On Bakri Eid, entry to Durgadi Devi Temple on the Durgadi fort, Kalyan, is prohibited. In the 1990s, Dharmaveer Anand Dighe opposed this by initiating a ‘Ghantanad’ protest. This year, the protest was revived at the same location.

2. To prevent any untoward incidents, the Police tried to keep the protesters and the mosque- visitors separate. The activists chanted slogans for a while in the fort area. Given the large gathering of protesters, the Police had enforced tight security measures.

Editorial Perspective

In reality, a mosque has been built by encroaching on the Durgadi fort. Allowing Muslims there and denying Hindus access to their temple is akin to Mughal rule by the Government authorities. Such occurrences in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Maharashtra are shameful for Hindus.