Gesture of harmony: Hindus, Muslims join in celebrations of Ganesha and Id Milad in Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru

The immersion procession of Ganesha idols held in different parts of Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru witnessed the participation of Muslim people, conveying a message of harmony and brotherhood.

During the procession of the Hindu Rashtra Sena Hindu Mahasabha Ganesha immersion procession held at Ripponpet in Hosanagara taluk on Saturday, September 7, local Muslims offered sweets, juice and food to the people taking part in the procession. Leaders of the community Asif Hassan, Ameer Amza, Afza Beary, and others had made the arrangements. The local police appreciated their gesture and thanked them for their participation in the event.

In Sorab on Monday, September 8, a group of Hindus distributed water and juice to those Muslims participating in the Id Milad procession. They had put up a stall to distribute refreshments to the participants.

Earlier on September 4, residents of Sulebailu in Shivamogga city offered food to devotees as part of Ganesha festival celebrations. The local Muslims, including Salim, Jameel, Tippu, Nadeem, and others, joined the celebration and offered juice and drinking water. The organisers of Ganesha festival, appreciating the gesture of the Muslim people, felicitated them. Shivamoppa SP G.K. Mithun Kumar has shared these incidents with the media and appreciated the gesture shown by the communities in celebrating the festivals.

Hindu-Muslim Maha Ganapathi

In Biruru of Chikkmagaluru district, Hindu people expressed solidarity with the Muslim people, who were celebrating Id Milad on Friday, September 5. A group of Hindu people gathered at Bhagirahat Circle in the town and distributed juice and drinking water to those Muslims participating in the procession to mark the festival. There have been reports of similar incidents in Uppalli in Chikkamagaluru and other places.

Interestingly, in K. Bidare village of Kadur taluk of Chikkamagalur, people of both the communities joined in the celebration of Ganesha festival on Friday, September 5. The Muslim people offered special prayers to the Ganesha idol and distributed sweets. The pandal, where the Ganesha idol had been installed, was named “Sri Hindu-Muslim Maha Ganapathi”.

Chikkamagaluru SP Vikram Amathe has appreciated the gesture of both the communities.