Abanadoned temple reopened in Aligarh, purification ceremony held

Right-wing organisations and some local BJP leaders held a ‘shuddhikaran‘ (purification) ceremony and chanted Hanuman chalisa at a long-abandoned Shiva temple in a Muslim-majority locality here after it was “reopened” by members of these groups.

The purification ceremony, organised by groups like Bajrang Dal



and All India Karni Sena, took place on Wednesday night, amid tight security measures. Many people from neighbouring areas also took part.

Gyanendra Singh Chauhan, state secretary of All India Karni Sena, said the temple was spotted during a drive by his organisation to find abandoned places of worship.