A holy evening ritual at Ujjain's Ramghat turned violent on Sunday when an argument between a priest conducting the Shipra Aarti and women selling flowers and diyas escalated into an open brawl. A bystander recorded the confrontation on a mobile phone, and the footage went viral on social media, drawing widespread attention to the incident.
A Dispute Over Vending Space That Turned Physical
Uma Yadav, a resident of Tilakeshwar Colony, was at Ramghat selling flowers and diyas alongside her mother Mamta Parmar when the trouble started. Ganesh Sharma, the priest who conducts the Shipra Aarti at the ghat, approached them and asked them to leave the spot. What began as a verbal exchange grew heated and quickly turned into a physical fight, playing out in front of a large crowd of devotees who had gathered for the evening prayer.
Brass Aarti Plate Becomes a Weapon, Three People Hurt
Uma Yadav alleged that Ganesh Sharma, together with his brother and one other person, attacked the group by hurling a brass aarti plate at them. Three people were injured as a result: Uma Yadav herself, her mother Mamta Parmar, and a girl named Shipra. All three were taken to the district hospital for medical treatment. The viral video clearly shows a man grabbing a woman by her hair and pulling her with force.
Priest Strikes Back With His Own Complaint
Priest Ganesh Sharma did not accept the blame and filed his own complaint, alleging that the women's side had assaulted him first. With both parties levelling accusations at each other, police faced a situation where each side was simultaneously the complainant and the accused.
Cross Cases Filed, Full Investigation Launched
Acting on the competing complaints, police registered cross cases against both sides and began a formal investigation. Additional Superintendent of Police Alok Sharma confirmed that three individuals suffered minor injuries in the incident. He said the viral video has been taken into evidence and that investigators are examining all aspects of the case. The police account describes the sequence as a verbal argument between the two groups that snowballed into physical violence. Further legal steps will be taken once the inquiry is complete.
Crowds of Devotees Witnessed the Scene
Ramghat was packed with devotees at the time, as is usual during the evening aarti. The sudden outbreak of violence in the middle of the sacred ritual created considerable commotion at the site. The bystander who filmed the incident posted the video online, where it spread rapidly and ignited a broader public debate about safety and conduct at one of Ujjain's most revered religious ghats.
