Junagadh: In the city known as “Narsaiya ni Nagri,” a decades-old statue of saint-poet Narsinh Mehta, installed near Girnar Darwaja, was vandalised two days ago. An unidentified person allegedly broke one hand of the statue by pelting a stone.

The statue, installed in 1983 by the Narsinh Mehta Statue Trust, has remained damaged for over 48 hours, and the trust has now decided to undertake the repair work.

Vijaybhai Kikani of the Narsinh Mehta Statue Trust said that a survey will be conducted in consultation with an artisan to assess whether the broken hand can be reattached or needs to be recreated. “The broken part is currently at the police station, and further action will be taken accordingly,” he said.

He added that the statue was originally installed at the Girnar Darwaja circle to commemorate Narsinh Mehta’s legacy, as Junagadh is regarded as the land of Narsaiya. The location was chosen deliberately, as Narsinh Mehta is believed to have passed through this route daily on his way to bathe at Damodarkund.

Meanwhile, residents have demanded improved security measures, including proper lighting around the circle, to prevent such incidents in the future.

Narsinh Mehta, a renowned 15th-century Bhakti poet, spent a significant part of his life in Junagadh, which was an important centre of devotion during that period. It was here that he composed many bhajans and devotional poems dedicated to Lord Krishna.

The site known as Narsinh Mehta no Choro in Junagadh continues to be associated with his legacy. It is believed that he performed bhajans and kirtans at this place, which is now regarded as a pilgrimage site. DeshGujarat