JANAKI, NEPALGUNJ: Nepalgunj is a town in Lumbini province known for inter-faith tolerance, and in keeping with this tradition the Muslim community leaders here have celebrated Bada Dashain by receiving tika and jamara from their seniors. Bada Dashain is the biggest festival celebrated by the Nepali Hindus.
The Muslim leaders partook in the festivities on the occasion of the Bada Dashain festival on Tuesday.
Abdul Wahid Mansuri, a Muslim community leader of Banke, received tika and jamara from the senior members of the Hindu community.
He said he has been celebrating festivals like Dashain, Tihar, Rakshya Bandhan, Holi, and others together with the Hindus.
“We live in a city known for goodwill and tolerance. This city has communal harmony. It is not only Muslims who participate in and celebrate Hindu festivals, the Hindu community also celebrates our festivals with fervor and gaiety like this,” said Mansuri, who is also the central member of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).
He said he has deep respect for the faith and religion of other communities. “Why should I not become a part of the happiness when the Hindu community elders whom I revere find happiness in my receiving tika, jamara and blessings from them?”
Mansuri shared that he invites the Hindu community leaders and seniors on the occasion of festivals of the Muslims, like Id, Bakar Id, Moharram and Mohammad Day and enjoy the festivities with them.
As he said, in Banke both the Muslim and Hindu communities have been celebrating each other’s festivals together for years.
Similarly, Pravez Ali Siddiqui, a senior philanthropist of Banke and Muslim leader, received tika from seniors and colleagues from the Hindu community on the occasion of Bada Dashain. After receiving tika and jamara, he gave tika and jamara blessings to the Hindu junior members and colleagues.
Like Mansuri, Siddiqui has also participated in the celebration of all kinds of festivals celebrated by the Hindu community for many years.
He said during festivities the members of the Hindu and Muslim communities have been participating in the celebrations and sharing happiness. This has become a tradition here in Nepalgunj, he added.
Another Muslim leader Rahman Miya has also received tika and jamara blessings from his Hindu seniors on the occasion of Dashain. Stating that both communities have unprecedented unity and goodwill towards each other, Miya said any attempt to jeopardize this inter-faith tolerance would never be successful.
Muslim imam Maulana Abdul Jabbar Manjari on Tuesday met with Chandra Nath Yogi, the head priest at the local Bageshwari Temple, on the day of Bada Dashain and extended his best wishes on the occasion.
Both religious leaders have also issued a joint appeal for promoting harmony, tolerance and unity in society.
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