Lessons on harmony under Durga Puja marquee

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Lessons on harmony under Durga Puja marquee

 

Patna, INDIA (Oct 22, 2004): Unknown to the world, small but touching

lessons in communal harmony are being scripted by many ordinary

Muslims in Bihar as they immerse themselves in the Hindu festival of

Durga Puja.

 

While some are offering flowers and fruits to goddess Durga, others

are regularly visiting the marquees they themselves helped build for

the festival.

 

Salam Bhai, a 50-year-old resident of Patna, has been celebrating the

festival for the last 11 years.

 

" I have been offering prayers before the idol of the goddess and

involving myself in celebrations to prove that Hindus and Muslims can

live together like brothers, " he said.

 

Salam Bhai is also a devout Muslim and is keeping his Ramadan fasts

as well.

 

He is not alone. Mohammed Muslim, a ward councillor from a

Muslim-dominated area in Hajipur in Vaishali district, along with his

brother, has also been busy marking the five-day Durga Puja that

began Tuesday.

 

They have collected donations from both Hindus and Muslims for

decorating the marquees where giant idols of the goddess have been

put up for worship by the public.

 

" The goddess symbolises virtue and it's our duty to promote virtue in

a society that is experiencing social disintegration due to the

misinterpretation of religion by some, " he says.

 

That's not all. Muslims in prisons across the state have also

actively participated in decorating marquees and collecting

donations.

 

Just like a Hindu, 26-year-old Ali Hussain of Maner village near here

has been praying and making offerings of flowers and fruits to the

goddess in a decorated marquee that he himself helped build.

 

Many Hindus have warmed up to his gesture and are making it a point

to offer prayers at Hussain's marquee.

 

" His devotion and dedication to the goddess is like that of any

Hindu. It moved all of us, we are proud of him, " said Dayanand

Mahto, a villager.

 

" We should join each other's festivals and celebrate them like our

own, " said Hussain.

 

Some Muslims though have distanced themselves from him and criticised

him for worshipping a Hindu goddess. But Hussain is undeterred.

 

In Bihar, there are hundreds of Muslims who are involved directly or

indirectly in organising Durga Puja in different towns and villages.

 

There are many such instances in bigger cities like Patna, Gaya and

Muzaffarpur. Muslims are even members of committees that organise the

celebrations. Many artisans who make idols and marquees in Bihar too

are Muslims.

 

It may be a cultural shock for some, but many Muslim women regularly

visit temples to seek the blessing of Hindu goddesses.

 

Source: Indo-Asian News Service, " Lessons on harmony under Durga Puja

marquee " India News, NewKerala.com

URL: http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews & id=38182