In a country where people are literally looking for reasons to discriminate, communal harmony remains a far-fetched dream. And if there is a place which has witnessed a significant amount of disruption regarding the same, it’s the Yavatmal district of Maharashtra.
On previous occasions, the festivals of Ganesh Chaturthi, Ramzan, and Muharram have ended in turmoil in the district, giving us an example of the prevailing communal intolerance.
However, this time, the case wasn’t the same.
In a bid to promote religious coexistence, the village decided to celebrate the ‘Ganpati’ and the ‘Muharram Sawari’ under the same roof. Both the structures were installed side by side sending out a heart-warming message of brotherhood.
According to The Times of India, people are offering prayers without any hindrance to each other at the same venue in Vidul village. The brillaint move was taken on the instruction of Yavatmal Superintendent of Police, Megnathan Rajkumar. He had asked Umarkhed police station inspector, Hanumant Gaikwad to organize a meeting which would be aimed at bringing peace between the villagers.
It is believed that the police have chalked out different timings for the Ganesh idol immersion and Muharram Sawari in order to keep away disputes.
The residents of the village have approved the idea wholeheartedly. They put up a pandal at Nalsaheb Devsthan temple where people from both the communities are offering their prayers together. Speaking about the same, the temple trust’s chairman, Jayaram Dhage, said,
“Some years, Ganpati and Muharram coincide. We have now decided that whenever these two festivals coincide, we will celebrate them together with fervour and enthusiasm.”
It is to be noted that the village has a disappointing history of communal riots. In 2008, two people were killed in Yavatmal while November 2006 was also marked by huge turbulence.
However, this heart-warming plan is indeed a one which deserves a round of applause and is a small but significant step towards religious coexistence.