Charminar Concerns as Bhagyalakshmi Temple Draw Diwali Crowd

Huge Diwali crowds, queues stretching beyond a kilometre and a stream of political visitors have revived the long-running debate over the temple next to Hyderabad’s 435-year-old monument.

Hyderabad’s Bhagyalakshmi Temple, which stands adjacent to the historic Charminar, drew very large crowds this Diwali, partly because of its annual distribution of silver coins. The surge, along with visits by senior political leaders, has prompted fresh questions about crowd control and the protection of the centuries-old monument. It has also revived an old dispute over the temple’s legal status.

Long Queues for the “Khazana” Coins

Thousands of devotees gathered at the temple on Monday, November 9, to offer prayers and receive silver coins known as “Khazana” or “Ammavari” coins. Queues stretched to Gulzar Houz, more than a kilometre away, as families arrived from across the city and beyond.

The distribution is the highlight of the temple’s annual Diwali celebrations. The coins are made from silver donated by devotees through the year and are placed at the feet of the goddess during the Deepavali puja. Each devotee receives one as prasadam, and many believe it brings prosperity and good fortune to the household.

The Diwali festivities began with Dhanteras on November 6. Distribution began at 7 pm on Sunday, Diwali day, after the evening aarti, and was to continue round the clock until November 11 midnight. Organisers set up four separate queue lines, while police managed traffic and security around Charminar. Roads were closed on all sides of the monument, and devotees walked in to wait for hours behind barricades.

Crowds Beyond Expectations

Temple trustees said the turnout was unexpected, and that the number of visitors would be known only after the distribution ended. Organisers attributed part of the surge to social media. Some devotees said the wait for darshan was nearly two hours, and a few families said they held back to let the crowds thin because of fears of a stampede. The rush also slowed vehicle movement in the busy commercial areas around Charminar and Gulzar Houz.

Political Visitors

Political figures have been among those visiting the temple. Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and his wife Janaki Shukla offered prayers on Diwali, along with BJP state president Ramchander Rao and former MLA Danam Nagender. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the temple on November 2 before leading a padyatra in Hyderabad as part of the BJP’s nationwide campaign “Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy”. Prominent persons, including politicians and Union ministers, regularly visit the temple during festivals.

Heritage Questions

The scale of the event has led many social media users to question the state government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) over how such a large gathering is being held around a protected heritage site. One widely shared post asked who is ensuring protection of the 435-year-old monument and asked the ASI to clarify the legal status of every structure adjoining it. The ASI has not been reported to have responded.

Charminar, built in 1591, has been a centrally protected monument under the ASI’s care since 1951. Conservationists have long argued that heavy footfall and construction near the monument can put pressure on the structure.

The Legal Dispute Behind the Debate

The temple has been at the centre of controversy for years. It is managed by a Hindu trust. The temple’s expansion in 2012 caused a major row, with local Muslim leaders objecting that it could damage the monument, and tensions rose in the Old City at the time. In reply to a Right to Information (RTI) query in 2013, the ASI described the temple as an unauthorised construction and said it was built after 1959. The ASI has maintained that it gave no permission for expansion.

The temple committee disputes this. It says the shrine predates Charminar, and its supporters say the temple has been a place of worship for generations. Supporters of the temple also argue that devotees have a right to worship there. The temple trust has said in the past that it has not sought to expand the structure. Neither side’s position has been settled by any final ruling reported in the coverage reviewed.

Different Views on the Visits

Political leaders who visit the temple describe it as an icon of Hyderabad and a place of faith. Critics say the high-profile visits add a political dimension to what should be a matter of heritage law and public safety. Both views have been voiced for years, and the Diwali crowds have brought them back into the open.

What to Watch Next

The coin distribution ends on November 11. Attention will then turn to whether the ASI, the state government or the Hyderabad police make any statement on crowd management and protection of the monument, and whether the legal-status question about the temple is taken up again.