Bhakti Chalak/Pune

The City of Malegaon in Maharashtra recently witnessed traditional cooperation between Hindus and Muslims and communal harmony during the festival of Chaitra, devoted to Goddess Durga, at Saptashrungi fort in Nashik.

As thousands of devotees walked from Khandesh towards the fort via Malegaon city, the local Muslims served the pilgrims on this 12 km route.

On the 12-km road from Chalisgaon Chauphuli to Dabhadi, many charitable and voluntary organizations have set up stalls at different points to serve the pilgrims.

Among these one that caught everybody’s attention is the one set up by Muslim youths. Young men served water to the pilgrims which is the most desired thing due to the scorching sun.  

Malegaon is a city with a Muslim majority located in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. It also has a sizeable Hindu population. This city, blooming on the banks of the Girna and Mosam rivers, is a unique confluence of the tradition of religious unity.

It laid the foundation of cultural and religious fusion for the past several centuries and people here have maintained a tradition of unity even in difficult times.

Hindu and Muslim communities always participate in each other's festivals and preserve harmony and brotherhood. 

Muslim youth serving chilled water to the Hindu pilgrims in Malegaon, Maharashtra

The temperatures in Malegaon have touched 40 degrees and the pilgrimage continues no matter how hot it gets.

Sensing this Mohammad Yasin, a young entrepreneur decided to serve water to the pilgrims do to his bit for preserving unity and harmony.

Yasin says, “I have seen the pilgrims walking on foot since my childhood. Many people set up various stalls for the devotees on this path to the fort. To get an opportunity to serve these pilgrims, we have been distributing water in the Piyla Pump area for the last 10-12 years.” 

He says, “It is our religious teaching to give food to the hungry and water to the thirsty. Therefore, during this summer, we are practicing the religion of humanity by giving water to the passersby. I, along with my employees, participate in this initiative.”

He proudly says that Malegaon has a tradition of Hindu-Muslim unity he he too wants to maintain this unity and hence the initiatives. “Many of our Hindu friends participate in our festivals. We also celebrate their festivals with them. This is our wish that the brotherhood between us remains the same.” 

The Muslim community of the Jafarnagar area of ​​Malegaon welcomes the chariot of the deity every year. From Daregaon to the Mosam bridge, Muslims welcome the devotees by distributing water and sharbat.

This year too, members of Kul Jamati Tanjim welcomed the chariot of the deity and the devotees by showering rose petals on the body of the deity.

Praising this charitable work done by the Malegaon Muslim community, Aba Chaudhary, the director of the prestigious chariot in Shirpur, said, “The atmosphere was overwhelming as the Muslim brothers were taking the chariot through the neighborhoods. Muslim brothers were showering rose petals everywhere. Muslim religious leaders literally walked with the chariot and welcomed us. With this act, Malegaon has given the message of Hindu-Muslim unity to the entire country.”

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He further says, “During this Chaitro festival, the culture of harmony of our country was evident everywhere. The joy and enthusiasm with which our Muslim brothers welcomed us was truly commendable. This act of the people of Malegaon will send a loving message of our Ganga-Jamuni culture not only to the country but also to the world.”