On Friday, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) carried out carbon dating at the Kartikeya Temple in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, which was reopened on December 13 after being closed for 46 years. According to local accounts, the temple remained closed since 1978 after communal riots led to the displacement of the Hindu community in the area.
The inspection by the ASI was conducted quietly, according to the District Magistrate, who mentioned that a team of four members managed the process. Authorities performed carbon dating and assessed five pilgrimage locations nearby, such as Bhadrak Ashram, Swargdeep, and Chakrapani, in addition to reviewing 19 wells.
The ASI had asked the local administration to make sure that their inspection activities stayed away from media attention.
Officials had previously stated that the temple was found during a campaign against illegal encroachments. Officials characterized the finding as accidental, asserting they “stumbled” upon the location during the operation.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vandana Mishra, who was spearheading a campaign against power theft in the locality, stated, “During our inspection of the area, we came across this temple. As soon as I saw it, I promptly notified the district officials.”
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During the reopening of the temple, three idols measuring approximately four to six inches were discovered while digging a well nearby.
After the idols and well were found at the temple, the Sambhal administration contacted the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to perform carbon dating of the site.
The temple is merely a short distance from the Shahi Jama Masjid, where four individuals lost their lives in violence on November 24 amid a protest against a court-mandated survey.
