Kerala: Iftar Arranged in Kasaragod Temple, A Great Example of Religious Harmony
Kasaragod, 5 March (www.deccanlive.com): In Kerala’s Kasaragod, a beautiful example of brotherhood was shown during the Perumkaliyattam Festival when an Iftar was arranged.
A temple in Kasaragod organized an Iftar for Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. It is common to have Iftar in mosques, but having it in a temple is a rare and wonderful example of unity and brotherhood.
On Monday, the temple committee initially arranged food for people attending the Perumkaliyattam Festival. Later, the temple authorities announced that Muslims would also be offered Prasad as Iftar.
Before sunset, fasting individuals started arriving at the temple. The temple authorities warmly welcomed them. They interacted with each other and inquired about each other’s well-being. The call to prayer (Azan) was heard within the temple premises, making this event a powerful example of religious harmony.
Mr. Munawwar Ali, who sent Iftar invitations to 13 different mosques, said, “Visiting neighbors, inviting people, and seeing them gather in the temple like this is a joyful experience.” He shared his experience on social media, saying, “The event was so beautiful.”
Iftar gatherings were also arranged in different places, including Palikkara, Bekal, Nileshwaram, Kinanmangalam, Kazhakam, and Thrikaripur. Temple members personally provided food items to mosque administrations, showing great cooperation and mutual respect.
Sabir Cheramel, a local who attended the Iftar, highlighted that religious harmony is not limited to Ramadan. He recalled that during floods, local mosques provided shelter to those in need. “Love and brotherhood are strong here, and we all see each other as family,” he said.
In Thrikaripur, the Valvakkad Jamaat’s Asukh Hudawi organized an Iftar, attended by political leaders, including Congress leader and Member of Parliament Ram Mohan Ananthan. Earlier, the Berchery Mosque Committee had welcomed the Kalari Mandia Kalavara procession, while the Alamara Mohiyuddin Juma Mosque Committee put up banners supporting the Perumkaliyattam Festival.
Even in difficult times, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence can grow beyond religious differences.
