The famous Hade Hanuman temple, located near Sati Gate in Ujjain, has recently been in the spotlight. As videos circulating on social media regarding plans to dismantle the temple have spread, the number of devotees here is steadily increasing. During this period, langurs also suddenly appeared near the temple, which became a topic of discussion among visitors.
Various videos and clips concerning the Hade Hanuman statue are actively spreading on social media, including stories about its miraculous unwillingness to be moved. Videos showing the statue remaining in place are going viral on platforms such as Instagram and YouTube.
These viral materials are influencing the situation at the temple: over 8,000 pilgrims have arrived here in the last four days. People are coming not only from Madhya Pradesh but also from the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. Many pilgrims share videos of the Hade Hanuman statue on social media during their temple visits, which sustains a constant flow of related videos.
The recent appearance of langurs near the temple has also attracted the attention of pilgrims. Discussions about these animals are taking place among people on the temple grounds and in the vicinity. Meanwhile, the administration has made no statements regarding the appearance of langurs near the temple.
The current situation around the temple differs from before: most of the adjacent area was dismantled about a week ago. The Hanuman statue is temporarily housed in a tent. Various opinions are being expressed on social media regarding the actions to relocate the statue. Barriers have been installed due to the increase in visitors around the temple, and a large number of police personnel have been deployed.
Temple attendance continues from morning till evening. Notably, despite the absence of major festivals, there is a continuous stream of pilgrims at the temple.
Typically, the flow of pilgrims in Hindu temples increases depending on the day of the week and festivals. There is a tradition where temples of Mahadeva are visited on Monday, Bajrangbali on Tuesday, and Ganesha on Wednesday. However, the Hade Hanuman temple in Ujjain is currently being discussed independently of any festivals. Pilgrims consider this temple miraculous. They believe that talismans and sacred threads obtained here help eliminate various diseases. It is this belief that prompts pilgrims to come here not only from local areas but also from other states.
On Thursday, the publication Aajtak organized a meeting with pilgrims to gather their opinion on the possible relocation of the temple. The views of both local and visiting pilgrims were unanimous: they believed that if the deity itself does not wish to leave this place, it should not be forcibly moved. Pilgrims noted that more than 60 temples have already been relocated for urban development, and leaving one temple in its original place would not be a mistake. They also emphasized that the administration must consider public sentiment alongside development. People stated that millions of people are connected by faith in this temple, so there should be no disagreements.
Pujari Mahesh Bairagi stated that the work related to the temple could have been done easily, but due to errors made by the administration, the current situation has arisen. He reported that he had previously held discussions with administrative officials regarding the conditions for relocating the temple, but his requests were not accepted. According to the pujari, after the temple gained attention on social media, pilgrims began arriving from all over the country. Many who come to Ujjain to visit Mahakala are now also visiting the Hade Hanuman temple, making this place a popular new destination for pilgrims. Mahesh Bairagi noted that the flow of pilgrims at the temple has been constantly increasing over the last four days. He also mentioned that the administration plans to conduct a scan of the temple using IIT.
Meanwhile, the administration called the videos and statements circulated on social media misleading. The administration asserts that no attempts have been made to remove the statue using machinery or force. On Thursday, there was also a flow of pilgrims from the early morning. The statue is in a tent, barriers have been set up around it, and a police patrol is present. In this atmosphere, the appearance of langurs near the temple has also become part of the discussion among pilgrims.
This entire situation is related to the Singhasthha construction project. Plans include expanding the route from Kantal to Chhatri Chowk, and the temple is on this path. Recently, the local administration dismantled the temple walls, but the statue has not yet been removed. Currently, the location remains in the spotlight due to the growing number of pilgrims, viral videos on social media, and the appearance of langurs near the temple.
