Ujjain: Just a few days ago, a film based on the life of Neem Karoli Baba, Hanuman Ansh, was released. The film tells the story of saint Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji), his miracles and his teachings. One of its central messages is that devotion to God can make a devotee so powerful that they can perform miracles. A similar scene has been unfolding in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain for the past three days. In this ancient city, a Municipal Corporation team that arrived to remove the 170-year-old historic Khade Hanuman ji’s murti has itself found the task extremely difficult.
In fact, during the operation on Friday, the Municipal Corporation demolished parts of the temple. However, when it came to removing the main murti of Mahabali Hanuman, the officials found themselves facing an extraordinary challenge. Devotees are viewing the developments not merely as a technical obstacle, but as a sign of Bajrangbali’s will.
An administrative process had been initiated to relocate the temple to facilitate road widening. The proposed new location was said to be Tanki Chowk. However, when the time came to move the nearly eight-foot-tall ancient idol from its original location, the situation suddenly became extremely complicated. The idol was found to be deeply embedded in stones beneath the ground, raising concerns that attempting to remove it directly could damage it.
https://x.com/choga_don/status/2096468948942504289?s=20
The structure was broken, but Hanumanji remained firmly in place
The operation to remove the outer portion of the temple continued, but moving the idol proved far from easy. For devotees, the sight was deeply emotional. Watching the temple structure being dismantled at a place where people had bowed their heads in prayer for years brought tears to the eyes of many worshippers. At the same time, the administration’s concern was understandable. Forcing such an old idol out of its position could have caused cracks or even resulted in the idol being damaged.
The Archaeology Department also appeared to become actively involved, with its experts advising the administration to proceed with extreme caution. Excavation was carried out beneath the idol to examine its base, and the possibility of further ground scanning was also raised. For devotees, this was the moment when a technical difficulty took on the form of faith. They said that if the idol could not be moved despite ordinary machinery and repeated efforts, perhaps Hanumanji himself did not wish to leave his place.
The story of 36 hours and three attempts
The sequence of events shared by devotees on social media has made the entire episode even more emotional. One devotee shared the details of the incident online, stating that during the attempts to relocate the murti, work had to be stopped on the first day because of an electrical spark. On the second day, persistent rain disrupted the operation, while on the third day, despite preparations including a crane, the murti still could not be moved. The sentiment expressed by Hanumanji’s devotees was simple: if Bajrangbali himself stops something, how can a human being move it through their own strength?
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उज्जैन में पिछले 40 घंटे से प्रशासन और नगर निगम की तमाम कोशिशें जारी हैं, लेकिन श्रद्धालुओं की आस्था के केंद्र खड़े हनुमान जी की प्रतिमा को अपनी जगह से हिलाया नहीं जा सका। बताया जा रहा है कि सड़क चौड़ीकरण और विकास कार्यों के तहत प्रतिमा को अन्य स्थान पर स्थापित करने की योजना… pic.twitter.com/9PNeYdYamk— Yati Sharma (@yati_Official1) September 6, 2026
Devotees say, “Baba has blocked the way”
The most emotional aspect of the entire episode is the belief among devotees that the difficulties encountered in relocating the murti represent Hanumanji’s wishes. In the eyes of the devotees, the question goes beyond technology. For them, it is a matter of faith in which human power is regarded as limited before God. Hanumanji is known as Sankatmochan, the remover of troubles. Devotees believe that he removes difficulties, protects his followers and remains wherever he wishes to reside. This sentiment has strengthened the belief on social media that “Baba has performed a miracle”.
Opposition amid recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa
It is significant that opposition to the temple’s relocation has also been rooted in this deep faith. On August 30, the Vishva Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and local residents protested against the action. People staged a sit-in and recited the Hanuman Chalisa. The administration had to defer the operation at the time. Later, citing road widening and the city’s development plans, the administration moved ahead with a proposal to respectfully establish the temple at a new location. The administration maintained that the dignity of the idol and religious traditions would be fully respected.
At this point, the issue ceased to be merely about relocating a temple. On one side were the requirements of city development, road widening and future traffic management; on the other were a 170-year-old religious memory, the emotions of local residents and their unwavering reverence for the idol.
हिन्दू और गैर हिन्दू का फर्क देखिये…..
👇आखिरी महाआरती में छलके आंसू, खड़े हनुमान जी से विदा लेते दिखे भक्त…. शहर के विकास और सड़क चौड़ीकरण के लिए हिंदुओं का त्याग और सहनशीलता का सर्वश्रेष्ठ उदाहरण है यह घटना….
उज्जैन में करीब 170 साल पुराने श्री खड़े… pic.twitter.com/jyBU6P1qwP— Oc updates (@ocjain4) September 6, 2026
Tears flowed at the farewell
As the process of removing the murti moved forward, large numbers of devotees gathered at the site. People had darshan, offered prayers and gave the idol an emotional farewell. Tears could be seen in the eyes of many devotees. Subsequent reports also mentioned the process of relocating the murti and installing it at the new site. In other words, the process of moving the idol eventually progressed, but the entire episode created a sentiment that prompted thousands of people to reflect on how sensitive our approach should be towards historical faiths and religious heritage in the race for development.
A history linked to 1857, five generations of service
People associated with the temple say that its history dates back to around 1857 or even earlier. It is said that the temple has been maintained by the same family for several generations. This is why, for local residents, the site represents far more than an ordinary religious structure. It has become a part of their family and social life. Those associated with the temple have urged the administration to exercise the utmost caution, given the historical significance and religious importance of the murti. Some devotees have even demanded that the murti be allowed to remain at its original location and that a grand temple be rebuilt there.
प्राचीन उज्जैन मै स्थिति हजारों वर्ष पुराने खड़े हनुमान जी को भी शहर के विकास की भेंट चढ़ना पढ़ा और भक्तो की आस्था करुणामय भक्ति के कारण बाबा की मूर्ति को नहीं हटा पायी कुछ तो चमत्कार हैँ https://t.co/sBI9AmHaZR@DrMohanBhagwat @blsanthosh pic.twitter.com/CE3IO42Ml3
— Dr Anilraj Akhand (@anilraj_dr) September 5, 2026
A question standing between faith and development
Ujjain is the city of Mahakal. Here, religious sites are not merely buildings; they form part of the city’s identity and collective memory. The episode surrounding the Khade Hanuman Temple therefore once again raises the age-old question of development versus faith. Roads can be widened, routes can be improved and cities can become modern. Alongside this, however, it is equally important to ensure sensitivity towards religious sites that have lived in people’s hearts for centuries. Perhaps this is the greatest message emerging from the entire episode.
For devotees, it is a miracle; for the administration, a technical challenge; and for history, an important piece of religious heritage. The difficulties encountered in moving Hanumanji’s murti may have raised several questions at the scientific and administrative levels, but for devotees, the answer is remarkably simple: “Wherever Bajrangbali wishes to remain, that is where his place is.”
उज्जैन में पिछले 40 घंटे से नगरनिगम की तमाम कोशिशें जारी हैं,लेकिन श्रद्धालुओं की आस्था के केंद्र खड़े हनुमानजी की प्रतिमा को अपनी जगह से हिलाया नहीं जा सका।सड़क चौड़ीकरण और विकास कार्यों के तहत प्रतिमा को अन्य स्थान पर स्थापित करने की योजना थी, लेकिन प्रयास लगातार विफल चल रहे। pic.twitter.com/zgqXSCeqBb
— कुलदीप पुंडीर (@kuldeepsinghpu4) September 6, 2026
Whether Ujjain’s Khade Hanuman has changed his place or not, the episode has once again demonstrated that the roots of faith run far deeper. For the moment, Hanumanji remains firmly in his place. The administration is making efforts to relocate him to another site, while devotees remain immersed in devotion to Hanumanji. They are chanting the mantras, “Jai Bajrangbali, Jai Shri Ram”. Locally, the area surrounding the temple is filled on all sides with an atmosphere of devotion to Bhagwan Hanuman.
