Devotees gathered to offer prayers during the morning aarti at the Shiv-Hanuman temple in Sambhal, UP

On Tuesday, a sizable congregation of worshippers flocked to the Shiv-Hanuman temple in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, to offer prayers during the morning aarti.

To carry out puja rites, a number of devotees gathered on the temple grounds. Inside the temple, devotees were seen reciting spiritual and bhajan songs.

The district police and administration found the temple on December 14 during an anti-encroachment drive, and on December 20, it celebrated its first morning aarti.

Since 1978, the Shiv-Hanuman temple has been shuttered.

To continue the subterranean excavation work at an ancient stepwell in the district that was discovered by a team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Sunday, the Nagar Palika sent out manual laborers yesterday.

A ‘baoli’ (stepwell) of 400 square meters was discovered, according to Rajendra Pensiya, the district magistrate of Sambhal, who verified the discovery. “The building, which consists of about four chambers, has marble and brick floors,” he stated. While the top levels are constructed of brick, the second and third floors are composed of marble. He further said, “This baoli is said to have been built during the time of the grandfather of Bilari’s king.”

Following a public gathering on Saturday that raised awareness of the building, the excavation process got underway.

“The Nagar Palika team is removing the topsoil from the structure, which is completely covered in mud,” Pensiya said. Only 210 square meters are unoccupied at the moment; the remainder is filled. We’re going to do something about the incursion.” He also calculated that the stepwell may be more than 150 years old.

The Municipal Corporation’s Executive Officer, Krishna Kumar Sonkar, said, “We began the excavation process as soon as we learned that there was a baoli here. As we get more knowledge, we will keep working on it.