Amrik Singh/Amritsar

Historical Shaheedi Jod Mela is going on in Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab. This fair is a unique event of its kind, which is held in memory of the martyrdom of the ninth guru of Sikhs Guru Gobind Singh, his four sons Singh and his wife Mata Gujri.

Lakhs of devotees from all over the country and abroad participate in the religious fair on the occasion of Gurpurb. Not only Sikhs and Hindus but Muslims too participate in it. Many Muslims also feel they have blessings from Guru Gobind Singh's blessings.

Thousands of Muslims have come to the fair. Although the Jod Mela lasts for a week, three days have special importance. This year many Muslim organizations have organized around-the-clock langar (community kitchen) for these days beginning December 27.

Women devotees cooking rotis at the langar

The langars set up by Muslims are seeing a good footfall.

There are separate langars for meals and tea. The biggest of these langars is organized by the 'Muslim-Sikh Sanjh', an NGO based in Malerkotla. The Sikhs offered Ardaas to the Guru and Muslims offered Namaz at the formal start of the langar on Tuesday.

Naseer Akhtar, a supporter of the Muslim-Sikh Sanjh Sanstha says, “Sikh-Hindu-Muslim unity has been strong since the fifth Guru of the Sikhs Arjun Dev Ji, gave ‘Ahmad’ (praiseworthy) status to the prophet of Islam in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The role of some secular Muslims in making sacrifices has been written in the golden pages of Sikh history. Guru Gobind Singh fought against the Mughals and also blessed Muslims.”

For this reason, Malerkotla has a good population of Muslims and there are mosques all over Punjab. During the partition of 1947, there were no communal riots in Malerkotla.

That's why a large number of Muslim communities come here during Jod Mela and offer prayers and various organizations serve langar."

Devotees eating at the langar organised by Muslim-Sikh Sanjh

According to Qurban Ali of the Sikh-Muslim Sanjh organization, "This organization was started 20 years ago when it for the first time organized a langar at Sri Anandpur Sahib and the tradition continues even today.”

On the first day, many intellectuals and scholars attended the langar organized by the Muslims

Principal of the local college Dr. Kashmir Singh said that the langar set up by the Muslim community is an example for the world.

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This should change the minds of those posing threats to peace and harmony being prepared by Muslims in Fatehgarh Sahib.