Shah Taj Khan/ Pune

Eid Milad-un-Nabi, the birth anniversary of prophet Muhammad and Ganesh Visarjan, the culmination of the ten-day Hindu festival of Lord Ganesh are coinciding on September 28. Both have immense importance for India’s largest religious groups Muslims and Hindus.

However, due to a large number of processions in which the Hindus carry the deity Ganesha for ritualistic immersion in the sea after having installed it at their homes for 10 days, the Muslim community of Pune and Mumbai have decided to defer the part of celebrations of the Eid Milad-ul Nabi.

Pune's Seerat Committee has asked Muslims to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi on October 1st and the people of Mumbai on September 29, setting an example of religious tolerance and harmony.

Maulana Ghulam Ahmad Khan Qadri of the Seerat Committee Pune told Awaz-The Voice that "Ganesh Utsav, the festival of our Hindu brothers lasts 10 days and on the last day Ganesh Vasarjan procession takes place. So we have decided to take out the procession of Eid Milad-un-Nabi on October 1 and not on September 28 (Day of Ganesh Visarjan)."

Ganesh Utsav is celebrated with great fanfare and devotion in Maharashtra. This year, this festival will be celebrated from September 19 to September 28. On September 28, huge processions would perform the immersion of the idol of Ganesha.

On the other hand, Eid Milad-ul-Nabi falls on the same day. Muslims also take out a procession on this occasion. Because Eid Milad-ul-Nabi and Ganesh Vasarjan are on the same day, the Seerat Committee of Pune decided to make adjustments and change the dates voluntarily.

The committee is winning hearts for its decision to facilitate the Hindu festival and show the religious unity of Indians.

The Seerat Committee held a meeting with the authorities of the Pune city. The meeting was attended by Muslim leaders, Scholars, and officials of various organizations. It was unanimously decided that the Eid Milad-ul-Nabi procession would be held on September 28 and the processions would be taken out with its traditional rituals and pomp on October 1..

Ravindra Anna Malwaldkar, President of Sukhal Peer Education Rashtriya Maruti Mandir Mandal, while welcoming the decision of the Seerat Committee, said that people like Shivaji Maharaj, Baba Sahib Ambedkar, Mahatma Jyoti Ba Phle, Anna Bhau Sathe, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad stood for the unity of Hindus and Muslims.

He said the decision of the Seerat committee was the message from Pune of respect for all religions. “I welcome this decision of the Seerat Committee. Lakhs of people join the procession on Ganesha Vasarjan while Muslims take out the procession on the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Both have the same path. Therefore, I thank my Muslim brothers and Seerat Committee for taking this thoughtful decision.”

Seerat Committee General Secretary Rafiuddin Shaikh said that under the chairmanship of Maulana Hafiz Ghulam Ahmad Khan Sahib Qadri, the procession will start from Manushah Masjid Nana Peth Pune at 2:30 PM after noon prayer on Sunday.