IN PICS | Slogans, Protests As Team Begins Videography Survey At Varanasi's Gyanvapi Masjid Complex

Court commissioner and nominated members arrive for the survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex and Shringar Gauri in Varanasi on Friday. Earlier, on April 26, 2022, the court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) of Varanasi, Ravi Kumar Diwakar, ordered filming of the Shringar Gauri temple in the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi mosque complex and other sites by the attorney commissioner after Eid and before May 10. (Source: PTI)

Members of the Muslim community protest after the arrival of the court commissioner and nominated members for the survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex and Shringar Gauri in Varanasi on Friday. The dispute first made headlines in 1991 when a slew of petitions were filed at the Varanasi court for permission to pray in the Gyanvapi Masjid region. The petitioners alleged that the Mughal monarch Aurangzeb ordered the Gyanvapi Masjid to be erected in the 17th century by removing a section of the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir.(Source: PTI)

Police personnel keep vigil as a Muslim devotee offiers Friday namaz outside the Gyanvapi Masjid during a video-graphic survey of its premises in Varanasi. (Source: PTI)

Muslim devotees form a queue to offer Friday namaz at the Gyanvapi Masjid before the survey of its premises in Varanasi on Friday. According to the reports, Hindu parties believe that earlier there used to be a temple on this site. It is being claimed that there is an idol of Bajrang Bali, as well as an idol of Ganesh ji inside. Apart from this, it is claimed that the real Shivling is hidden in the basement of the Gyanvapi Mosque. (Source: PTI)

Police personnel use mobile phones to conduct a video-graphic survey outside Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi. (Source: PTI)

The survey's timing is particularly relevant, given that it is a Friday and the 'namaaz' is only held once a week, on Friday afternoon. Only about 100 'namaazis' are permitted under current regulations.(Source: PTI)

The full survey is scheduled to take three to four days, according to the court's orders, and will be videographed and photographed throughout. The court has also ordered that the mosque's two basements be investigated. The district government has the key to one cellar, while the mosque's governing committee has the key to the other.(Source: PTI)