06, Sep 2022 | CJP Team

On Sunday, members of a Ganpati visarjan (idol immersion) procession, set a beautiful example of communal harmony when they passed by a mosque in Malad. This happened on the fifth day of immersion.

According to a report in the Times of India, they switched the music that was hitherto playing bhajans (Hindu devotional songs) to play, “Bhar de jholi meri ya mohammed,” a popular Islamic devotional song.

Amidst the systematic hate leading to growing anger and despair, it is important to showcase a lived reality of camaraderie, equality and sharing which is the bedrock of the Indian Constitution and secularism. That way we not only hold on to every thread of hope, but effectively project these narratives, lest we lose our will to fight the good fight. As part of our #EverydayHarmony series, CJP brings you instances where Indians share and care, every single day… our food, our businesses, our homes and our friendships. This instances show how we Indians continue to reject hateful and divisive agendas even while street violence and social media are used as part of a sinister, hate-filled political agenda to tell us otherwise. Let’s reinforce India’s everyday lived reality, and through that collectively and aggressively, uphold and defend a unique pluralism, a diverse culture and truly secular values. Donate now to help us combat hate and prejudice!

And while the actions of the participants at the procession in Malad were truly commendable, this is not the first such instance in Maharashtra. During Ram Navami, the DJ of a procession had also paused music while they walked past a mosque in Aurangabad.

This is far cry from many previous instances of communal clashes during similar religious processions, particularly those that took place during Hanuman Jayanti and Ram Navami earlier this year in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa and Rajasthan. In many instances, videos of the clashes circulated on social media showed people swinging swords and waving religious flags aggressively as the DJ played songs with lyrics demeaning followers of other faiths.

Hopefully, we will see more examples of communal harmony and respect, instead of violence, in the years to come.

Image Courtesy: dharmadeen.com

Related:

Aurangabad: Ram Navami procession shows respect to mosque

Gujarat: Locals blame election politics for Ram Navami violence

Communal confrontations mar Ram Navami celebrations in five states

Rajasthan: All you need to know about the Karauli violence