The Karnataka High Court has granted permission for Shivalinga puja to be performed at the Raghav Chaitanya Shivalinga, located within the Ladle Mashak Dargah in Aland, Kalaburagi district, during Mahashivaratri. However, the court has restricted participation to only 15 individuals and denied entry to Siddalinga Swami, the national honorary president of Sri Ram Sene.
The decision comes after leaders of Hindu organizations petitioned the court, seeking access for worship. While the permission was sought for 500 devotees, the court ruled that only a small group could participate.
To prevent any disturbances, authorities have deployed additional police personnel across Aland town. The district administration has also imposed Section 144 of the CrPC, restricting public gatherings.
As a further precaution, Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fauzia Tarannum has ordered a ban on alcohol sales in the district from Tuesday (Feb 25) at 11 PM to Thursday (Feb 27) at 6 AM.
The Ladle Mashak Dargah is associated with a 14th-century Sufi saint and a 15th-century Hindu saint, Raghav Chaitanya, who was the guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The Shivalinga was installed over Raghav Chaitanya’s samadhi, and Hindu devotees have historically offered prayers at the site.
For centuries, both Hindu and Muslim communities gathered peacefully at the shrine. However, tensions escalated in 2022 when reports emerged that certain individuals had desecrated the Shivalinga. The incident led to communal clashes, resulting in 167 arrests, including 10 women.
Following the unrest, local BJP leaders and Hindu organizations attempted to perform purification rituals, but they allegedly faced resistance from members of the Muslim community.
The Karnataka Waqf Tribunal had earlier established a structured schedule for religious observances at the site. According to the tribunal’s order, Muslim community members can perform Urs-related rituals from 8 AM to 12 PM. While Hindu devotees are permitted to offer prayers to the Raghav Chaitanya Shivalinga from 2 PM to 6 PM.
The Karnataka HC upheld this framework while granting permission for a restricted puja this Mahashivratri.
The Ladle Mashak Dargah has now become a recent flashpoint of communal divisions in Karnataka. While religious practices coexisted for centuries, disputes over ownership and access have heightened tensions in the area.
Authorities remain on high alert to prevent any untoward incidents during Mahashivaratri, according to the reports.
