Mangalore, August 25: It was an evening of harmony and peace at Sri Gokarnatheshwara Temple, Kudroli, here, where Hindus and Muslims got together for 'Eid Souharda Koota' on Friday. It was a rare sight indeed to see burqa-clad Muslim women attending the programme held at the Glass House inside the temple premises.
Although Eid was celebrated by the Muslim community earlier this week, the Kudroli unit of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) organised this special programme to honour and promote the unity shared among the two communities.
The chief guest for the occasion was Ajith Kumar Hegde S., Commissioner of Mangalore Urban Development Authority, who said that man himself was the root cause of conflicts between different religions. “Man has learnt to fly like a bird and swim like a fish, but has sadly lagged behind in living as a human should. While neither the Sun nor the universe has changed, kitna badal gaya insaan (how man has changed),” he said, quoting the popular saying.
Appreciating the system of Zakat in Islam, he said that poverty had to be eradicated. Poverty anywhere was a threat to prosperity everywhere, he said.
He also quoted the Prophet Muhammed as saying that a believer is not the one who eats his fill when his neighbor is hungry.
He said if the country had to progress, then the distinction between upper and lower classes should be eradicated.
K.S. Mohammed Masood, Chairman of Kudroli Jamia Masjid, said that the venue had been chosen for the occasion for the cause of maintaining harmony. It could not have been more apt. It is a sign of our unity and harmony, he said. He lauded the JIH for having given the opportunity for Muslim women to participate in a programme held inside the temple.
Jayaram Bhat Chinchalkar, seer of Venkatramana Temple at Dongerekeri, said peace of mind is essential to a man's well-being, and it is necessary that it should be maintained. “While we should bring purity in our thoughts, in reality we do not try to do so. Fasting is a method where lot of impurities is removed from our minds. It does good not just to our health, but also will bring upon good to ourselves,” he said.
He said that we must avoid being selfish. It is because of “selfishness” that we become greedy and fall astray from our righteous path, he said.
In his presidential address, Mohammed Kunhi, Joint Secretary of JIH, said that all problems arose due to political and money-related issues, never due to religion. It is a misconception that religion was the cause of several problems, he said.
Fasting is a means to achieve control over oneself. It is a workshop that teaches one how to have control over self. During the month of Ramadan, there was a change in the lifestyle of a majority of the population all over the world. It is proof enough that man can control or change himself if he desires, he said.
Delivering the Eid message, he said that one ought to be “open” in matters of the religion he/she followed. “What you believe should be seen in your actions, and your actions should follow your thoughts. Only then is it possible for him to attain purity. Being a believer of God doesn't mean he's good; one should also have discipline. One should love his wife and teach his children to honour others. If you do not honour a person, it is a crime in the court of the lord; this should be the main realisation,” he said.
Dinner was arranged for all who had gathered in the calmness of the temple's inner courtyard.
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