In Eid season, Muslims to take part in rath yatra

LUCKNOW: Every year, when the famed Jagannath Rath Yatra passes through Muslim-dominated areas of the city, people line up on both sides of the road to catch a glimpse of the procession and pay their respect.
This year, with the yatra coinciding with the festival of Eid-Ul-Fitr, it will witness a greater show of Hindu-Muslim amity.
While Shree Mahant Shatrugan Das Rath Yatra Committee, Aminabad, will have Muslims helping their Hindu brethren in all the preparations of the yatra on Friday, Muslim members of Shree Radha Madhav Seva Sansthan, Daliganj, and Shree Navratra Mela Jagannath Rat Yatra Samiti, Chowk, will not only welcome the Jagannath devotees at Akbari Gate, Nakkhas and in other areas, but also exchange greetings immediately after Eid namaz by offering sweets to each other.
Brij Kishore, from Shree Mahant Shatrugan Das Rath Yatra Committee in Aminabad, said, “Despite July 17 being Alvida Juma (last Friday of Ramzan), many Muslim families have offered assistance and have also been helping us all through the month of Ramzan to organize this event.”
“Keeping the tradition of the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb alive, our yatra procession will be marked by active participation of Muslim members. Many rozedars will be setting up water, sherbet and food stalls,” he added.
Associated with Shree Radha Madhav Seva Sansthan for five years, Aiman Fatima, a young professional excited to celebrate Eid along with the yatra, said, “I will not only attend the rath yatra, but I also intend to prepare sewain for the participants. This way, the spirit of festivity and camaraderie will increase.
Mohammad Saif Khan, who has provided free electricity supply to the yatra in the past, usually offers the Eid namaz at a mosque close to his house. With the yatra coinciding with Eid, he has decided to offer namaz early in the morning so as to not miss the procession.
“This year, I have to ensure that all the lighting and electricity arrangements for the rath yatra are in place. As soon as I finish namaz, I will go to the yatra venue and remain there till the procession culminates,” said Saif.