At the 1,200-year-old Varanda Vir Maharaj Mandir in the Dalvana village of Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, Muslim rozedaars were, for the first time, invited to break their Ramzan fast and offer Maghrib Namaz on April 9.
As many as 100 Muslim residents of the village were invited to the historic temple. Pankaj Thakar, the 55-year-old priest of the temple, said that the people of the village have always believed in coexistence and brotherhood and that, when the dates of Hindu and Muslim festivals overlap (which they often do), villagers of both religions help in each.
According to Thakar, the temple trust and the gam panchayat jointly decided to invite the Muslim residents of the town to the temple this year.
“We arranged for five to six types of fruits, dates and sherbet for over 100 Muslim rozedaars of our village. I personally welcomed the Maulana sahib of our local mosque,” the Indian Express quoted Thakar as saying.
Another resident of the village, 35-year-old Wasim Khan, echoed Thakar’s sentiment of communal harmony having long-since prevailed in the village. He noted that the Muslim community of Dalvana has worked “shoulder to shoulder” with their “Hindu brothers” in Hindu festivals in the past and said that the gram sabha’s proposal for Muslims to be invited to break their fast at the temple was an “emotional moment” for the community.
The event comes against the backdrop of a surge in reported incidents of communal violence and disharmony across the country, be it the multiple incidents of violence against Muslims on Ram Navami or calls for the socioeconomic boycott of Muslims.
Jignesh Mevani, the MLA from Vadgam, the taluka under which Dalvana falls, acknowledged the charged communal atmosphere of the country, while speaking to the Express. However, he noted that hearing stories, such as this one from the Varanda Vir Maharaj temple, inspire hope for the future.
A similar display of communal harmony took place earlier this month at the Chathangadu Sree Maha Vishnu Temple in Vaniyannur in Kerala’s Malappuram district. The temple organised a mass iftar as part of its annual installation day celebrations, which was attended by over 200 Muslim men, women and children.
As was the case in Dalvana, the temple authorities highlighted the support the Muslim community provides in organising Hindu festivals. Since many from the local Muslim community were unable to take part in the temple’s annual feast held earlier due to Ramzan, the temple authorities decided to hold another for them.
(Courtesy: The Wire.)
