Mumbai: 150-year-old temple demolished within pagoda compound in Gorai

The Gorai police have filed an FIR against unidentified individuals for demolishing the historic 150-year-old Swayambhu Jagartu Devasthanam Shri Vangna Devi Temple within the compound of the Global Vipassana Pagoda in Gorai. The trustees of the Pagoda are accused of demolishing the temple and a peepal tree that is over 100 years old. This temple is regularly visited by Hindu and Koli community members for religious ceremonies.

The rubble of the destroyed temple within the pagoda compound

According to the police, the Pagoda trustees did not obtain the necessary permission from the authorities to carry out the demolition. The land on which the Pagoda stands belongs to Essel World, who had entrusted it to the trustees of the Global Vipassana Pagoda for its development. The Pagoda was completed and opened to the public in 2009. The complaint was lodged by Haresh Sutar, a leader of the political party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) residing in Gorai Village. The temple, which was built several centuries ago, has been regularly worshipped by thousands of devotees.

Swayambhu Jagartu Devasthanam Shri Vangna Devi Temple

A police officer stated, "In 2019, during Guru Purnima, a meeting was held between the trustees of the Pagoda, the police, and the Essel World administration to discuss the preservation of the ancient temple. During this meeting, it was decided that the temple would not be demolished." On May 14, the Pagoda trustees used a JCB to demolish the temple without obtaining any approval or permission from the authorities. Haresh Sutar expressed his disappointment, saying, "Despite their assurances to preserve the temple, the trustees destroyed it along with the holy peepal tree. They submitted a building plan to the BMC that made no mention of the temple."

"The building plan submitted to the BMC authorities fails to mention the temple, and an ancient sacred peepal tree was also cut down. Local villagers who regularly worshipped at the temple have come together to file an FIR." Anand Lamhade, Senior Vice President of Operations and Projects at Water Kingdom and Essel World Bird Park, stated, "Villagers and devotees have been protesting outside the pagoda, demanding the restoration of Goddess Wangana Devi's temple and the opportunity to worship there regularly."

Anand Lamhade further informed mid-day that the land was donated to the Pagoda, and an agreement was made not to demolish any structures on the land. The FIR has been registered under sections IPC 295, 427, and 34 against the unknown perpetrators. No response from Pagoda admin: Despite several attempts to contact trustees and the administrative department of the Pagoda at Gorai, mid-day didn't get any response. Calls and messages went unanswered.

About the Pagoda

The Global Vipassana Pagoda, constructed using interlocking stones, is a meditation dome hall that can accommodate approximately 8,000 Vipassana meditators. It is the largest meditation hall of its kind worldwide and is located near Gorai in the northwestern part of Mumbai. The pagoda was inaugurated on February 8, 2009, by Pratibha Patil, the President of India at the time.