45 years down the line, Thakres keep ‘roza’, celebrate Eid

Nagpur: Almost everyone in New Subhedar Layout gets an invite for ‘seer korma’ from the Thakre family on the occasion of Eid but many others gatecrash too. This tradition has been going on since 1975-76.
The following of the Muslim ritual and festivity for the family began when Ashok Thakre, a retired state transport employee, was influenced by friend-turned-mentor Hazrat Mohd Shaikh Usman Shah Chisti. Before joining ST, Ashok owned a cycle stand where Chisti, an employee of Modern mill, used to spend time.
Spiritually inclined Chisti had a handful of followers. Ashok too felt a strong attraction towards preachings of Chisti who later on had a dargah after his name in Shanti Nagar.
Ashok’s son Girish, who runs a web portal, decided to take father’s tradition ahead. “My wife (Varsha) gets up at 3 am to prepare ‘Sehri’ for us and also ensures the ‘Iftari’ is ready in the evening. In last 10 years, I did not miss a single roza. Whenever a namaz was missed due to assignment I ensured to read it late to compensate,” said Girish who religiously performs five times namaaz.
“I have tutored myself about the namaaz from books and also hearing from father,” said Girish. “My mother or wife never objected neither did anyone in the neighbourhood. In fact, many love to relish the Eid delights prepared at our home,” he said.
Girish said it was just a service and bonding towards the faith and no material gains. “Many ask me whether there is any gain behind it. I tell them to follow the rituals without keeping any goal in mind. Faith is something needed to be embraced and followed without expectations. The prayer is true only when there is no expectation,” he said.