Muslims come forward to lend hand to Durga Puja celebrations in Pratapgarh

ALLAHABAD: Letting unity take precedence over the differences between their communities, a group of Muslims in Sahumai village in Kunda tehsil of Pratapgarh have come forward to pitch in with setting up a Durga Puja pandal in their area.
The group has donated Rs 5,100 for setting up the pandal in Railway Gate locality and will distribute 'panjiri' as prasad among the devotees for nine consecutive days at the pandals to be set up in Sahumai and Kunda Road.

The inititive was on part of Muslims from the Roshan Tarey Trust.

The founder of the trust, Mohd Amir aaid, "When volunteers of Jai Maa Durga Joint Committee approached us, we decided to becme a part of the Navratra event and contributed whatever we could. Many people in the area believe that we should celebrate festivals of other communities to foster communal harmony ."

Amir had earlier donated a piece of his land for the construction of a Ram temple in Sahumai village about a year back. " The members of the organisation also decided to distribute 'panjiri' as prasad among the visitors at two different pandals," he said.

"Serving the mankind is our motto. Three years back, when we started the exercise to join people of all communities in celebrating each other's festivals, many people had raised their eyebrows. The members of the organisation had gradually managed to convince each other that they were here to stay together and share their joys and sorrows."

A local resident of the village, Satish Chandra Mishra, said, "Apart from sharing each other's joys and sorrows, we have decided to celebrate each other's festivals as well and set an example."