The Basant Panchami puja started early on January 23, 2026, at the disputed 11th-century Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque site in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh. The Supreme Court had on January 22 issued a time-sharing order to maintain peace. Hindus can pray from sunrise to sunset. Muslims are allowed namaz between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The historic site was decorated with saffron flags and flowers as devotees arrived at sunrise. The Basantotsav Samiti and devotees installed the idol of Goddess Saraswati or Maa Vagdevi, performed aarti, and offered oblations in the havan kund. Security was very tight, with 8,000 personnel deployed, including district police, Rapid Action Force, CRPF, MP Armed Force, SRPF, and women police units. The administration also used drones and CCTV cameras. A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant gave this arrangement to avoid communal friction since Basant Panchami fell on a Friday. The heavy security presence aims to prevent any untoward incidents around this sensitive religious site.