News: Shabeer Mangalore
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SB)
Mangalore, Sep 8: Iftar party at a Hindu worship place? That too in Krishnapura? Yes, the people of Krishnapura, a sensitive coastal town in the outskirts of the city which has been hogging the limelight for wrong reasons such as communal riots, attacks, curfews and tensions for many years, have now sent a message of peace, religious harmony and co-existence to the entire coastal Karnataka.
In a unique gesture of secular culture, the administration committee of Baikampadi Sri Sarala Dhoomavathi Daivasthana in the seventh block, Krishnapura hosted a rare iftar party on the premises in association with Youth Wing of Jama’at-e-Islami Hind, Krishnapura Circle.
Nearly 200 Hindus and Muslims got together and promised each other to strive towards establishing peace in the entire town. “This time your number is in hundreds. Next year it will increase to thousands”, said S Pramod Bhandari, president of the daivasthana.
“Humanity, love and brotherhood are the core elements of religion. If we are truly religious and pious people we have to bridge the gap between the followers of different religions,” he said.
In his presidential address, Muhammad Kunhi, manager of Shanthi Prakashana called upon the gathering to become the true followers of the original messages of the religion, which preaches mankind to live with harmony.
Talking about the month of Ramadan and fasting, Kunnhi said that a person should cultivate self-control through fasting. “A Muslim cannot be a true Muslim if he cannot control his bad emotions”, he said.
On the same occasion Kannada translations of holy Qur’an were distributed to the Hindu guests. Sayeed Ismaeel delivered the introductory address. B A Muhammad Ali welcomed and compered the programme.
Girish, secretary of the daivastana proposed the vote of thanks. Haji Mumtaz Ali, chairman, Al-Badriya English Medium School, Belliyappa, circle inspector, Suratkal, Yateesh Baikampady, social activist, Hamza, former principal of Badriya Pre-university College and Thilakraj, corporator were among those present.