Namaz follows roza iftar on ghat famous for Gomti aarti

LUCKNOW: The stillness of air was compensated by the fluidity of movement on Shri Mankameshwar Upvan ghats on Sunday evening as Muslim men wearing skull caps took their place on crisp white sheets minutes before azaan (call to prayer) announced time for roza iftar.
Soonafter, a ‘tilak-dhari’ youth clad in a saffron T-shirt ushered his Muslim brethren to the designated spots and served water and food to them, following the harmonious traditions of Oudh and its Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb.

The state capital’s oldest and most revered Shiva temple, Mankameshwar Mandir had hosted the roza iftar party on the ghat where Gomti aarti is performed by the temple’s chief priest to spread the message of peace, brotherhood and unity.

Muslim men and women, for whom separate arrangements were in place, had turned out in large numbers on the invite from the temple committee.

Among the prominent invitees were Imam of Teeley Wali Masjid, Maulana Fazlul Manna Rahmani, Maulana Sufiyan Nizami, Darul Uloom spokesperson Farangi Mahali, Nawab Jafar Mir Abdullah and Nawab Masood Abdullah and overseeing preparations was the chief priest of Shri Mankameshwar Mandir, Mahant Devyagiri.

“It has been Indian tradition for centuries that Hindus celebrate Muslim festivals and Muslims celebrate Hindu festivals. These months are auspicious for Hindus too as we are observing ‘bada mangals’.

It is the time when a good deed gets 70 times more reward. And what better way to earn it than serving those who have fasted from dawn to dusk in obedience to God.”

After roza iftar, namaz was offered at the ghats with Imam of Teeley Wali Masjid leading prayers.

Mohd Ghufran Khan from Khadra said, “Our country is famous for peace between Hindus and Muslims.

Few anti-social elements try to create differences.” “Such events should happen more,” said SW Bari from Daliganj.