Muslims help carry heavy idols to Hill Temple in Doda

Story by ATV | Posted by Aasha Khosa | Date 08-08-2022

Symbolic Image

Doda (J&K)

The reality of people on the ground being united despite the attempts by nefarious elements to disrupt their unity was evident in Bhaderwah of Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir when Muslims and Hindus together lifted huge idols for installation at the Lord Shiva temple in an ancient temple under renovation.

According to the reports, the Muslim volunteers joined Hindus in lifting a 700 kg statue of Lord Shiva and other deities to the temple located uphill as there was no motorable road to this temple.

As the management committee of Karsari Shiva Temple, located on the top of the hill, three kilometers from the Bhaderwah-Doda highway, was wondering how to carry the idol uphill, the Muslims came forward for help.

For the renovation of the ancient temple, the management has purchased six granite idols each weighing 500 to 700 kg from Rajasthan and as there was no road to the temple, three km from the highway there was no way to transport these to the temple.

Sarpanch of Kursari Panchayat Sajid Mir announced the construction of an at the cost of Rs 4.6 lakh from the Panchayat budget he also raised a volunteer team of 150 Muslim villagers for carrying the idols to the temple.

Speaking with the media, Mir said that “respecting all religions and communities is our culture and it is our values that we have inherited, so we will not bow down to the nefarious designs who are trying to divide us based on religion.” He said, "the Muslims joining the Hindus is carrying the idols has shown to the world we are one.”

Over four days, local Hindus and Muslims used machines and ropes to carry the idols to the temple, where they would be installed in a religious ceremony on 9 August.

“We are excited about our work,” Mir said. Local army units, road construction companies, and civil administration have joined the villagers in this difficult task. The Shiv Mandir Committee has appreciated the cooperation and enthusiasm of the Muslim neighbours in making the installation of the idols on time.

Temple committee chairman Ravinder Pradeep said, "It makes our heart happy to see the love and affection of our neighbours; it gives us strength. We worked hard over the last four days to arrange for the transportation of the idols, which once seemed like an impossible task. But the Muslims together with us made it possible.”