After two years of hiatus, people across the country celebrated Vinayak Chaturthi with fervour On August 31 as the celebrations for last two years were hit by Covid induced Pandemic. Seldom we come across images that emerge in social media where people display brotherhood and togetherness.
Harmony is on display in Hyderabad as a Muslim man installed a Ganesh idol along with his Hindu friends and he claimed that they together perform pooja and offer prayers to Lord Ganesh. When asked he said he believe in coexistence. "I've been installing Ganesh idols for 18 yrs & I believe everyone should live together. Even my Hindu friends come to our Masjid," Md Siddiqui said as quoted by news agency ANI.
Siddiqui's friends Venkatesh Sharma said that he participates in pooja and they don't see caste and religious differences. "We have taken all the permission for installing the idol. Siddiqui not only installs the idols but also participates in the pooja. Here we can see no caste and religious differences. We will immerse the idol on the 9th day," Venkatesh told ANI.
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On a similar note, Muslims and Hindus in Karnataka's Mandya came together to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, reported ANI. People from both communities set up pandal, decorated it with flowers and installed a Ganesh idol.
Mohamad Zakir, a local resident told ANI that the tradition has been going on for the last 17 years and he further said that they want to give a message of communal harmony to the other parts of the state. This came at a time when the state is marred with communal polarisation.