Devotees thronged the Khaggu Sarai area here on Tuesday to offer prayers to an idol of Lord Hanuman that was discovered in the Bhasma Shankar temple, reopened last week after being shut for 46 years.
Tuesday is devoted to the worship of Lord Hanuman.
"The temple was cleaned around 4 am. A 'cholaa (cloth meant for gods and goddesses)' was offered to Lord Hanuman and the Hanuman Chalisa recited," said the temple's priest Shashikant Shukla.
He added that "shringaar (decoration)" of Lord Shiva was also done in the temple's sanctum sanctorum.
The Shri Kartik Mahadev Temple (Bhasma Shankar temple) was opened on December 13 after the authorities said they stumbled upon the covered structure during an anti-encroachment drive.
The temple had an idol of Lord Hanuman and a Shivling. It had remained locked since 1978. The temple also has a well nearby.
Shukla said devotees had started coming to the temple from near and far.
He further said his "heart aches, thinking of the years that the idols had remained in darkness".
He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the district magistrate and the superintendent of police for the temple's reopening.
Vikki Kumar, a devotee who came to the temple said, "Such an ancient temple has opened after 46 years. Tuesday being devoted to Lord Hanuman, I have come to visit with my family." Officials had said on Monday that three damaged idols were found inside the temple well.
The temple is located about a kilometer from the Shahi Jama Masjid where violence occurred on November 24 as part of a protest against a court-ordered survey of the mosque.
The Sambhal district administration has sent a letter to the Archaeological Survey of India requesting carbon dating of the temple and the well.
Carbon dating is a technique employed to ascertain the age of an archaeological artefact from ancient sites.
District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya told the reporters on Monday that both the temple and the well were being excavated.
When asked if the temple would be beautified, he had said, "First the temple's 'pracheentaa (antiquity)' will be ensured.
Read also| India and Bangladesh Veterans to Exchange Visits for Vijay Diwas Commemoration
