Vadodara: A local court on Monday ruled in favor of the priest of Ranchhodji Mandir on MG Road, granting permission to fire the temple’s over 150-year-old cannon. The cannon-firing tradition, part of the Dev Uthani Ekadashi procession, had been halted since 1996 due to “public safety concerns.” With the court’s approval, the cannon will be fired again next year on Kartak Sud Agiyaras, ending a 29-year hiatus.

The cannon was seized by the District Collector in 1996 following a negative police report after two injuries occurred during the 1995 Dev Uthani Ekadashi procession. The temple’s chief priest, Janardhan Dave, filed a legal petition against this in 1996, leading to a decades-long legal battle.

The cannon underwent multiple tests in 1997-98, 2010, and earlier this year. In January, the Vadodara Civil Court appointed two lawyers as court commissioners to oversee a test firing at Navlakhi Ground. The exercise, conducted on January 27 under police supervision, was followed by a report submitted to the court.

After 28 years, the 13th Additional Civil Judge, V.S. Patel, delivered a judgment on November 18, partially allowing the plaintiff’s claim. The court noted that the cannon is functional and in line with the 150-year-old tradition of the Sri Ranchhodji temple. The judgment affirmed the plaintiff’s right to perform rituals and give a cannon salute to Sri Ranchhodraiji.

Temple priest Janardhan Dave, who vowed to walk barefoot until the ban was lifted, expressed satisfaction with the verdict. He announced that from next year, the cannon will once again be fired during the Varghoda procession of Bhagwan on Dev Uthani Agiyaras. With the case resolved, Dave, who abstained from wearing shoes for 28 years, said he would now resume wearing them.

The court has set strict conditions for firing the cannon. Prior government approval must be obtained, and the cannon must be certified as fit for use. Firing will be permitted during specific religious festivals, such as the temple’s foundation day, Patotsav, or Tulsi Vivah, under police supervision.

Safety protocols include:

• A 100-foot radius in front and around the cannon, and a 15-foot area behind it, must be unmanned except for the cannoneer.
• Only 40 grams of gunpowder in a cloth bag should be used, with a nine-inch timing device in the flash hole (six inches inside, three inches outside).
• Firing must involve blank shots without projectiles.
• No flammable materials like cigarettes or liquids should be nearby.
• Firefighting equipment must be present, and the cannon barrel should be angled downward during firing.

The verdict marks the end of a long-standing dispute, reviving an integral tradition of the Ranchhodji temple while ensuring public safety. DeshGujarat