Gujarat: Muslims donate for renovation of a Hindu temple in Siddhpur

AHMEDABAD: Recently an old temple of Goddess Chamunda Mata located in Dethly village near Sidhpur taluka in Patan district was renovated at a cost of about Rs 1 crore. It has become a beacon of communal harmony locally as members of Muslim community of this village donated Rs 11 lakh towards the revamping. Not only that but the members of Muslim community are also volunteering at the temple by running a tea counter serving free tea to devotees who are coming to attend a three-day yagna organised by the temple management.
Akbar Momin, local leader of Agakhan Momin community of the village, said that a year ago when the temple management decided to renovate the old temple and were collecting funds for that, members of the Muslim community got together and collectively donated Rs 11,11,111 to the temple trust. "The village population is around 6,000 and 30% of them are Muslims. We live in harmony and have never seen any communal violence or disharmony in the village," Momin said.

Momin said the temple management has organised a three-day yagna starting from October 12 and Muslims are participating in the event by offering their services. "Members from the Muslim community have set up a tea and coffee counter at the temple and we are offering free beverages to the devotees," Momin told TOI.

Momin added that around 50,000 cups of tea are distributed for free at the counter daily.

Ibrahim Shaikh, trustee of Sunni Muslim Samaj in Dethly, said the community contributed Rs 51,000 to the temple trust. "We are offering services in the yagna organised by the temple. We offer beverages, help the trust in various tasks to manage this event. You can see many members wearing skull caps volunteering at the event," Shaikh said, adding there is no discrimination by Hindu devotees.

Sarpanch Vikramsinh Darbar said all communities including Muslims have generously donated for the renovation. "Muslims are offering services such as handling the temple kitchen, serving food and tea to devotees and also in coordination," Darbar said. He said the villagers have been preparing for this event for one month and Muslims have been an integral part of this preparation.