24, Oct 2023 | Mariyam Usmani

Dussehra, or Bijoya, the commemoration of victory of virtue over falsehood, is one of the most celebrated festivals of India! A combination of the Ramleela, Garba, Mela and beautiful Pujo awnings bears the kernel of a woman-oriented ethos combined with a tenacity to stand by the truth! The pandals are bedecked with the nine forms of Durga, dominated by the powerful Durga in the centre! Ravana, the embodiment of evil for some is also venerated by others as a scholar and Shiiva Bhakt! Nine days of Bijoya or ‘Navratri’ (east in Bengal its Bijoya and west its Navratri – ends in the celebratory, Wahana Poojan -Worship of the vehicular traditions). The grand carnival of the last day, Dussehra, has a strong business angle for thousands of marginalised people and a syncretic approach which brings the filaments of Hindu-Muslim fraternity among citizens!

Like any syncretic cooperative compass of festivity, the Durga-Pooja has also transformed over the years and has grown into more than a matter of faith! This year as earlier, Muslims, and other minority communities have actively participated and contributed to the merriments and heralded India’s unique communal congruence!        

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!

Deoria, Uttar Pradesh

In the city of sugarcane farmers and sugar-mills, a sweet instance of communal brotherhood has overpowered the uprising hate-wave around the east of Uttar-Pradesh! There is a ritual of ‘Kanya-puja’ during Navratri and each year the religious heads or the committee organises a grand feast for small young girls who have not reached the stage of puberty! [Feminists have questioned this practice that is still observed in many parts, however.] Young girls are adorned, celebrated and worshipped in between the early days of Navratri! 

In the Bhujouli colony of district Deoria a Muslim man has presented an exquisite example of shared fraternity! Breaking the stereotypical structure, he has taken the charge of Kanya-pooja and offered scrumptious Thali & flamboyant Uphar (gifts) to 1500 girls.   

देवरिया- नवरात्रि पर हिंदू-मुस्लिम एकता की दिखी झलक,मुस्लिम युवक ने 1500 कन्याओं को कराया भोजन,जन सहयोग से सभी कन्याओं को गिफ्ट भी दिया,देवरिया के भुजौली कॉलोनी में हुआ कार्यक्रम.#Deoria pic.twitter.com/dCimLlGrq8

— भारत समाचार | Bharat Samachar (@bstvlive) October 23, 2023

This Muslim man has proved that the love and respect for the daughters must not be alienated on the name of religion! The daughters are ‘Lakshmi’ for the Hindu community and ‘Rehmat’ for the Muslim believers!

Mumbai, Maharashtra

By the same token, following the Gujarati tradition of vivacious, ecstatic and jovial Garba nights, the city of dreams has also witnessed several beautiful accounts of communal harmony! A post on the Instagram handle of singer Salim Merchant has widely grabbed the ogles of netizens!  In the posted video, three Muslim singers Salim-Merchant, Osman Mir and Aamir Mir are leading the stage while a throng of people is seen dancing and rejoicing on the beats of Maari Maavdi! 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Salim Merchant (@salimmerchant)

Bollywood and the creative arena are known to diminish borders of prejudice! Art has no religion and when the artist picks the path of faith, religion turns into a potion of love, empathy and concord!   

Dantewada, Chhattisgarh

Dantewada, mostly identified as the tight-spot of political hurricanes, has also perceived a stunning example of religious synchronization!  According to the report of Speed News Desk a Muslim family has ignited seven lamps on the names of seven family-members inside the Maa Danteshawari temple. Sweety Alam, Manan Miraz Hussain, Zahida Khatun, Soham Kabir, Sheikh Sahid, Shakeel Ahmad and Salim Raza Usmani were going through a perilous phase of a serious disease when they promised to kindle Ghee-lamps. Later, they recovered and completed the promise during the blessed days of Navratri!   

Both religions have inspired the other one and the treasured devout values in order to hold the heirloom of syncretistic past!  This family is another example of the intertwined faith and mutual enlightening ethics!  

Kolkata, West Bengal

In the similar row the city of joy, Kolkata has presented a quite unique example of beading faith into a powerful tool to change social mathematics. As per a report of FII a Pujo Pandal is breaking the menstruation taboos via women-oriented themes and revolutionary sculptures. The Pujo is the most imperative festival of West Bengal and this initiative to establish a comforting positive atmosphere for the women is pathbreaking and truly inspirational! 

In our society, a ‘Ritumati’ woman is considered profane, someone who can’t touch the religious sculpture or participate in the ceremonies. There is a lot of social stigma and discernment around menstruation. This art of empowering women by combining the crucial question of exclusion with spirituality has set an astounding landmark of equality! 

New Delhi – The Urdu Ramayan

The Jashn-e-Rekhta, an annual celebration of Urdu literature, has organised an ‘Urdu-Ramayan’ drama to celebrate the combined cultural bonds! The Hindu scriptures in Urdu language are not a new thing. In the previous records of this beautiful Indian language there exists a splendid history of unrestricted morals. 

This innovation must be seen as a modest and creative revolt against the pro-Hindutva politics of labelling the Urdu language. The easy to understand, friendly dialogues and the mesmeric tone of the Urdu Ram Kahani not only adds a magical charisma to the epic but also boons Urdu as a ‘Dilfareb Hindustani Zaban’ (Striking Indian Language).

Precisely, this year the Durga-Pooja celebrations have established the humane virtues over typecasts, politics of abhorrence and discrimination! These tales of harmony have unbolted the empathy, love & care among common people. It’s true that the wonder of this Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb is founded on the evergreen paradigm of collective pain and happiness!  

Related:

Everyday Harmony: Banners Asserting Fraternity & Sisterhood Plaster Navi Mumbai Streets

Everyday Harmony: Muslim Man Risks Life To Save A Hindu Girl From Drowning In Madhya Pradesh

Love & Harmony over Hate: Int’l Day to Counter Hate speech, CJP’s unique efforts