Muslim villagers spread Dasera cheer

Lucknow: Naseem Khan is satisfied with the modest earnings from his small tailoring shop. But every year around Dasera, Khan turns slightly worried.

He starts accepting orders in bulk to raise his income, not for his family, but for raising funds for organising Ramlila: the mythological play based on the Hindu epic Ramayana.

Like Khan, many Muslims in Mumtaz Nagar village of Uttar Pradesh's Faizabad district have been keeping alive the village's decades-old custom, under which all arrangements for holding Ramlila are looked after by members of the minority community.

"We take pride in following such a tradition that exhibits communal harmony in a true sense. Every year when we organise the play, we get a unique feeling of serving the almighty. After all, our Hindu brothers are the creation of the same supreme power that has made us," 42-year-old Khan told IANS by telephone from Faizabad,.

"Besides entertainment and enjoying other religious aspects, we derive a great satisfaction by organising Ramlila that, in a way, instills a sense of brotherhood among members of the two communities," he added.

Muslims organise the mythological play under the banner of Ramlila Ramayana Samiti (RRS), a committee that was constituted by Muslims of Mumtaz Nagar village around 47 years ago for the promotion of communal harmony. Mumtaz Nagar has a population of around 800 people, more than 65 per cent of them Muslims.

"Being a Muslim-dominated village, Mumtaz Nagar used to be livelier on Muslim functions than Hindu festivals. As there was a limited population of Hindus, our ancestors thought being in majority they should do something to enhance the celebrations of Hindu festival," Majid Ali, RRS president, told IANS.

"Muslims from various walks of life are in the committee. Irrespective of their financial situation, Muslims of the village make every effort to generously contribute the funds required for staging the play. Those Muslims who cannot contribute anything for the play don't mind working as labourers for making arrangements for the play," he added.