A unique incident has been reported from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, where efforts to shift a nearly 170-year-old idol of Lord Hanuman have failed despite the use of engineers and technical equipment. The idol is located on the road between Kanthal and Chhatri Chowk, which is being widened as part of preparations for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela. A team of officials, engineers and technical experts from Ujjain and Indore worked for two days to move the heavy idol to a new location. However, the idol reportedly could not be moved even by half an inch. The incident has led many local residents and devotees to describe it as a “miracle” and a sign of divine power. Following strong opposition from locals, the administration has currently put the plan to shift the idol on hold and installed a tent around the site for safety.
The temple priest and members of the temple committee have demanded that the administration provide a written assurance that the idol and temple will be safely relocated without causing any damage. They have also said that the idol should not be touched until such an assurance is given. The administration, however, says it plans to relocate the idol with full respect and safety near Tanki Chowk. Officials have dug around one-and-a-half feet around the idol and are now considering using machines and technical scanning to understand its foundation and the structure beneath it before making another attempt. With the route also being used for the Mahakal procession, authorities are under pressure to complete the road work but have decided to proceed carefully due to the religious sensitivity of the matter. For now, the 170-year-old Hanuman idol remains firmly in its original place, leaving devotees calling the incident a miracle while engineers continue to look for a technical explanation.
