Rising Above Communities, This Muslim Man Presided Durga Puja Celebrations For 23 Years

In these days where channels are filled with news about communal violence and the comments on every headline that even tangentially mentions any religion reek of hatred, finding anything on peace and harmony is heart-warming.

This story of a man from Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district is that Oasis in the desert.

Meet Sheikh Salim Niyariya, he is a 50-year-old man who has astonished many people around him by showing them that amity knows no religion. He along with two other members of the Muslim community has organised Durga Puja celebrations in the Handi Chowk area with full enthusiasm.

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Image source

He is a Congress Corporator, but he has not done this to impress the vote bank. Sheikh Salim Niyariya has been doing this for the last 23 years since 1992.

 

He has been well managing the ‘Handi Chowk Durga Committee’ by actively installing the Goddess idols in the area, managing the ongoing activities like decorating the deity’s pandals and finally the idol immersion on the ninth day.

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Image source

He also holds the post of Speaker of the Raigarh Municipal Corporation and works for all communities through it. While speaking to PTI he said, “Peace and harmony of this locality is an example to the nation. Both Muslim and Hindu communities take part in each other’s festivals with full enthusiasm.”

Setting quite an exemplary example, isn’t he?

News Source: First Post

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