On Thursday (January 22, 2026), there was a debate between the Hindu and Muslim sides in the Supreme Court regarding the worship and namaz of Basant Panchami in the Bhojshala of Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi suggested that Hindus worship till 12 in the morning and then from 4 in the evening. On the suggestion of the court, the petitioner said that it would be better if the prayers could be held after 5 o’clock, to which the Muslim side’s lawyer said that the time for Friday prayers is fixed. Can’t change it.
An organization named Hindu Front for Justice has filed a petition demanding to stop Muslims from offering Namaz there on the day of Basant Panchami. The petition said that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has allowed Hindus to offer prayers every Tuesday and Basant Panchami, while Muslims have been allowed to offer namaz every Friday from 1 to 3 pm. This order of 2003 did not mention what would happen if Basant Panchami falls on Friday.
Why did the petitioner appeal to stop offering Namaz?
It was said in the petition that Basant Panchami is a very sacred festival for the followers of Sanatan Dharma and traditional worship of Mother Saraswati has been happening on this day for a long time. Whenever Basant Panchami falls on a Friday, simultaneous worship and namaz leads to chaos, confrontation and sometimes communal tension.
‘Fix the time of Friday prayers’, argues Muslim side
The petitioner told the court that 23rd January i.e. tomorrow is Basant Panchami and puja and havan will be held from sunrise to sunset. He demanded whether namaz could be held after 5 pm. On this, the lawyer of the Muslim side said that Friday namaz is held between 1 pm to 3 pm and its time is fixed, after the namaz we will vacate the place. He said that the timings of other prayers can be shifted, but not of Friday prayers.
What did the court say?
ASI’s lawyer was also present in the court, he assured to maintain law and order and take care of everything and said that we will take care that such incidents do not happen like before. After hearing the arguments, the court ordered that a separate special place should be given in the premises for namaz between 1 pm to 3 pm, where Muslims can offer namaz peacefully. The court also gave the same order for Hindus that there should be a separate place in the premises for Saraswati Puja, Havan and other programs related to Basant Panchami.